As part of the Transparency in Coverage Final Rule issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, health insurers and self-funded health benefit plans must post machine-readable files (MRFs) on a public internet website that includes:
- Negotiated rates for all covered items with in-network providers, and
- Historical payments to and billed charges from out-of-network providers.
These files will permit the public access to health plan payment information to help understand pricing and costs for health care services. The MRFs are accessible free of charge, without establishing a user account, password, or other credentials, and without submitting identifying information such as a name, email address, or telephone number.