Three suburban behavioral health hospitals faulted for lacking price transparency

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Three behavioral health hospitals in the northwest suburbs of Chicago have been cited by the federal government for failing to fully comply with price transparency regulations requiring clear disclosure of medical service costs. These enforcement actions are part of a broader national effort to help patients and payers better anticipate healthcare expenses and avoid unexpected bills, with noncompliance risking fines of up to $2 million annually.

Three behavioral health hospitals in the northwest suburbs of Chicago have been cited by the federal government for not fully complying with price transparency regulations aimed at informing patients about the costs of medical services. Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System received a warning letter, while Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates and Chicago Behavioral Hospital in Des Plaines were issued more stringent requests to submit plans detailing how they will provide clearer pricing information.

These actions stem from enforcement efforts initiated by the Trump administration in 2019, which mandated that hospitals disclose the prices they negotiate with commercial insurers. This transparency initiative seeks to enable patients, employers, and insurers to better anticipate healthcare costs for services such as blood tests and imaging procedures, thereby reducing unexpected expenses and fostering more informed decision-making. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to penalties of up to $2 million per year.

A review of the three hospitals’ websites showed that they do offer price guides for standard procedures, but federal authorities assert that the information currently falls short of the mandated transparency standards. Attempts to reach representatives from the hospitals for comment were unsuccessful.

Since April, over 500 hospitals across the United States, including at least 21 in Illinois, have received warnings or requests concerning price transparency. Texas leads the country with 47 hospitals notified in this regard, while Alaska remains the sole state without any such notifications.

The American Hospital Association challenged the 2019 executive order in court, arguing that these requirements would not effectively help patients understand their costs. Nonetheless, enforcement was reinforced through a subsequent executive order issued last year, which instructed the departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to carry out the transparency mandates.

As healthcare facilities work to comply with these federal directives, patients and payers continue to await more accessible and consistent information about medical costs across the nation.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.