Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called the decision in federal court in Washington, D.C., a resounding victory" for President Donald Trump's efforts to open up the convoluted world of health care pricing so patients and families can make better-informed decisions about their care.
Industry argues that forcing the disclosure of prices negotiated between hospitals and insurers amounts to coercion.
It also imposes significant burdens on hospitals at a time when resources are stretched thin and need to be devoted to patient care, Hutton said.
Nonetheless, patient advocate Cynthia Fisher said the judge's decision will help demystify health care costs and is in line with what most people want to see.
Americans want hospitals and insurance companies to reveal their hidden prices and believe that it will lower prices, said Fisher.