NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Several Middle Tennessee hospitals are facing questions after a watchdog group identified them in a report alleging they are not complying with federal hospital price transparency requirements.
The report from Hospital Watch names 16 hospitals across Tennessee. The five hospitals in Middle Tennessee named in the report are:
Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital (Nashville)Saint Thomas Hospital for Specialty Surgery (Nashville)Rolling Hills Hospital (Franklin)Williamson Medical Center (Franklin)Highpoint Health – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas in Gallatin, formerly Sumner Regional Medical Center
WHAT ARE HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY RULES?
According to the Associated Press, federal hospital price transparency rules require hospitals to publicly post pricing information so patients can better understand what their care may cost before receiving treatment.
The Associated Press reports the Trump administration has warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide that they were not meeting those requirements. Hospitals that fail to correct deficiencies can face civil penalties of up to $2 million annually.
Hospital Watch says hospitals that fail to comply with the rules make it harder for patients, families, and employers to compare healthcare costs before receiving care.
WILLIAMSON HEALTH SAYS IT HAS CORRECTED THE ISSUE
Williamson Health also responded to FOX 17 News, saying it has already addressed the issue that led to its inclusion in the report.
In a statement, the health system said it has worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for years to remain compliant with federal requirements. According to Williamson Health, it discovered that a link within the pricing data file available on its website was not working properly after receiving a compliance notification from CMS.
The health system said it corrected the issue, submitted the updated information to CMS, and was notified earlier this week that it is now fully compliant.
“For years, Williamson Health has been diligent in its work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to be fully compliant with their requirements. When we received the notification regarding our current compliance, we discovered that a link within our data file, that patients can access from our website, was not working properly. We’ve since rectified this issue and have submitted this information to CMS. They confirmed earlier this week that we are now fully compliant.”
ASCENSION SAYS TECHNICAL ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED
An Ascension spokesperson told FOX 17 News the health system remains committed to complying with federal hospital price transparency regulations and works closely with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure ongoing compliance.
According to the spokesperson, the recent CMS warning letters involved a “minor technical error” affecting a specific subset of Ascension facilities’ price transparency files following policy updates that took effect Jan. 1, 2026. The spokesperson said the issue has since been resolved in accordance with CMS guidelines and emphasized that “the integrity of our pricing data has never been disputed by CMS.”
Ascension said it provides patients with several resources to better understand the cost of care, including an online price estimator, access to patient financial services representatives and cost estimates after services are scheduled. The health system also noted it has received national recognition from the Healthcare Financial Management Association for excellence in patient financial communications.
The spokesperson added that Ascension remains focused on meeting federal transparency requirements while helping patients make informed healthcare decisions and improving access to affordable care.
HIGHPOINT HEALTH SAYS IT HAS MADE CORRECTIONS
Highpoint Health – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas also responded to FOX 17 News, saying it took action after receiving a notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in April.
The health system said it conducted a review of the hospital charge information and machine-readable pricing files on its website and identified technical elements that needed to be updated to meet CMS specifications.
According to Highpoint Health, the files were corrected, republished and successfully validated using CMS testing tools. The health system said it is now awaiting CMS’ review and formal resolution of the matter.
Highpoint Health said it supports price transparency and believes patients should have access to information that helps inform healthcare decisions. However, it noted that hospital charge data can be complex and does not necessarily reflect what a hospital is ultimately paid or what a patient will owe out of pocket. The health system encourages patients to contact their insurance provider or the hospital directly to better understand their specific coverage and expected costs.
Highpoint Health said it remains committed to meeting all federal transparency requirements and providing clear, accessible pricing information to patients.
COMPLETE LIST OF TENNESSEE HOSPITALS NAMED IN THE REPORT
Hospital Watch identified the following Tennessee hospitals as non-compliant with federal hospital price transparency requirements:
Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital (Nashville)Ascension Saint Thomas Three Rivers (Waverly)Bradley Medical Center – Westside Campus (Cleveland)Cookeville Regional Medical Center (Cookeville)East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (Knoxville)Haywood Park Community Hospital (Brownsville)Lakeside Behavioral Health System (Memphis)Riverview Regional Medical Center (Carthage)Rolling Hills Hospital (Franklin)Saint Thomas Hospital for Specialty Surgery (Nashville)Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation (Chattanooga)Highpoint Health – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas (formerly Sumner Regional Medical Center) (Gallatin)Sweetwater Hospital Association (Sweetwater)Trousdale Medical Center (Hartsville)West Tennessee Healthcare Milan Hospital (Milan)Williamson Medical Center (Franklin)
FOX 17 News has reached out to the Middle Tennessee hospitals.