Guides written for hospital CFOs and compliance officers — what CMS checks, what it costs to fail, and how to fix it.
Everything a hospital MRF must contain in 2026, per 45 CFR §180.
The real penalty schedule: $300/day → $5,500/day → $2M/year cap.
Where the machine-readable file lives and how to check it.
What payer-specific negotiated rates are and why CMS checks them.
The full requirement set under CMS-1717-F2, simplified.
The 70-item shoppable services requirement, explained.
The difference CMS auditors check — and what each file must contain.
Every hospital fined so far, amounts, and what triggered them.
The required JSON schema for machine-readable files, with examples.
The 8 elements we audit — as a printable checklist.
The enforcement ramp: automated audits, warning letters, fines.
Why the machine-readable file and the consumer tool both matter.
The legal landscape hospitals face under the transparency rule.
