Bill Text: NH HB578 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relative to payment at time of medical services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-10-19 - House Retained Bill - Executive Session: 10/25/2011 1:15 PM Legislative Office Building 301-303 (If Necessary Continued 10/27/2011 1:15 PM Legislative Office Building 302) [HB578 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2011-HB578-Introduced.html

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HB 578 – AS INTRODUCED

2011 SESSION

11-0460

01/10

HOUSE BILL 578

AN ACT relative to payment at time of medical services.

SPONSORS: Rep. Garcia, Rock 4; Rep. Bates, Rock 4; Rep. Okerman, Rock 4; Rep. Renzullo, Hills 27; Rep. J. Johnson, Ches 6; Rep. Beattie, Hills 17

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill requires a physician or physician’s office to disclose the cost of medical services for self-pay patients at the patient’s request.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11-0460

01/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT relative to payment at time of medical services.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Self-Pay; Disclosures Required. Amend RSA 329 by inserting after section 31 the following new section:

329:32 Medical Rates and Disclosures for Self-Pay Patients: Definitions.

I. In this section:

(a) “Ancillary services” includes, but is not limited to, audiology, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse, chiropractic, and podiatry services.

(b) “Health care professional” means a physician, pharmacist, or other health care practitioner who is licensed, accredited, or certified to perform specified medical or ancillary services within the scope of his or her license, accreditation, certification, or other appropriate authority and consistent with state law.

(c) “Medical services” means any service, supply, or drug intended for the maintenance care of, or preventive care for, the human body or the care, or treatment of an illness or dysfunction of, or injury to, the human body. “Medical services” includes, but is not limited to, physician care, inpatient care, hospital surgical services, emergency services, ambulance services, laboratory services, pharmaceutical supplies, prescription drugs, and medical equipment and supplies. “Medical services” does not include ancillary services.

(d) “Provider” means an institution or individual that offers medical or medically-related services in a health care setting.

(e) “Self-pay patient” means any person who wishes to make full payment at time of service or supply delivery.

II. On the request of a self-pay patient, any provider or health care professional providing medical or ancillary services, shall provide accurate billing at time of service delivery for all services and supply charges. The charges for self-pay patients shall be equivalent to or lower than the negotiated price between all non-government insurance carriers and the provider for similar services and supplies.

III. In addition to other penalties and enforcement provisions under this chapter, any person who willfully violates this section shall be subject to an administrative penalty of up to $500 per violation.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.