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Bill would require hospitals to screen patients for charity care before billing; proponents cite large unmet charity-care obligations, hospitals warn of rural-‑
Summary
HB2736 would require certain hospitals to screen patients for financial-assistance eligibility and refund improperly billed amounts; proponents said charity care should be default, while hospitals warned the mandate would impose heavy administrative burdens and could conflict with payer contracts.
House Bill 2736 would require non-disproportionate-share hospitals to screen patients for eligibility for the hospital's financial assistance program or charity-care policy. Reviser Eileen told the Committee on Insurance the bill would direct the Secretary for Health and Environment to adopt rules establishing a screening process, require notice on each hospital billing statement, allow patients to apply regardless of screening results, require refunds and reimbursement for incorrect determinations, and invalidate medical debt sold based on an incorrect screening.
Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, testified as a proponent and said the bill…
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