Senate panel advances patient-friendly billing bill; sponsor to revise collection-agency language

A Senate committee gave a favorable report to a patient-billing measure that would require health-care facilities to provide itemized, plain-language statements showing amounts due, third-party billing and patient balances, and would make portals an acceptable delivery method.

Sponsor remarks and staff testimony framed the bill as a common-sense modernization: itemized rather than 'gruesome' detail, use of everyday language familiar to patients and the ability for a patient to waive receipt of minute detail. Committee staff said the bill would prevent facilities from pursuing debt collection unless billing was provided or offered and not waived by the patient.

A contentious point arose over subsection 6, which the transcript records as shielding a collection agency from liability for inaccuracies provided by a health-care facility. Senator Barnsberg objected, saying that language could let collection agencies continue aggressive collection against older or vulnerable residents and suggested striking the sentence. The sponsor told the committee he would work with members and providers to draw improved language and had included Consumer Affairs in hearings to address protections for patients.

The committee adopted an amendment and moved the bill forward with the understanding sponsor and interested senators would refine subsection language dealing with collection-agency liability. The motion for a favorable report as amended carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the bill was reported out of committee as amended and will proceed to the next stage in the legislative process.