NJ S4299

Establishes the Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency within the Department of Health to collect healthcare pricing data, support cost containment efforts, and publish studies aimed at reducing per capita health care spending growth

Creates an 18-member Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission to set a health care cost growth benchmark and a hospital price growth benchmark, monitor compliance, and impose civil penalties on entities exceeding benchmarks

Requires hospitals to comply with federal price transparency requirements; non-compliant hospitals are prohibited from collecting medical debt from patients and face civil penalties of $10 per day per hospital bed for violations

Mandates the Office collect hospital pricing data for the State Health Benefits Plan, including in-network and out-of-network allowed amounts for inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, and physician services

Requires healthcare entities exceeding benchmarks to submit performance improvement plans, with progressive enforcement actions including civil penalties for non-compliance; annual public reports must detail compliance status and policy recommendations