HB 1071

Abstract

Hospitals; financial assistance; payment plans. Requires hospitals to make reasonable efforts to screen every uninsured patient, defined in the bill, to determine whether the individual is eligible for medical assistance pursuant to the state plan for medical assistance or for financial assistance under the hospital's financial assistance policy and to inform every uninsured patient who receives services at the hospital and who is determined to be eligible for assistance under the hospital's financial assistance policy of the option to enter into a payment plan with the hospital. The bill also prohibits hospitals from engaging in extraordinary collection actions to recover a debt for medical services against any patient unless the hospital has made all reasonable efforts to determine whether the patient qualifies for medical assistance pursuant to the state plan for medical assistance or is eligible for financial assistance under the hospital's financial assistance policy and requires hospitals to annually report data and information regarding the amount of charity care, discounted care, and financial assistance provided under the hospital's financial assistance policy and the amount of uncollected bad debt. This bill is identical to SB 201.

Hospitals; debt collection; determination of patient eligibility for financial assistance. Requires every hospital to (i) make reasonable efforts to screen every uninsured patient to determine whether the individual is eligible for Medicaid or financial assistance under the hospital’s financial assistance policy, (ii) may a payment plan available to every uninsured patient who is determined to be eligible for financial assistance under the hospital’s financial assistance policy if requested by the patient, (iii) develop a process for renegotiation of a payment plan, and (iv) report information about charity care, discounted care, or other financial assistance provided by the hospital under its financial assistance policy and the amount of the hospital’s uncollected bad debt. The bill prohibits hospitals from engaging in extraordinary collection actions to collect patient accounts receivable unless the hospital has undertaken all reasonable efforts to determine whether a patient with delinquent debt is eligible for Medicaid or other financial assistance under the hospital’s financial assistance policy. The bill also requires every hospital that is subject to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make information about the hospital’s charity care policy available to individuals with low English proficiency in accordance with federal requirements.

Hospitals; debt collection; determination ofpatient eligibility for financial assistance. Requires everyhospital to screen every patient to determine the patient's householdincome and whether the individual is eligible for medical assistancepursuant to the state plan for medical assistance, charity care,discounted care, or other financial assistance with the cost of medicalcare and provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law,no hospital shall engage in extraordinary collection actions to recovera debt for medical services against any patient until such hospitalhas performed such screening.