Bill Text: NJ A3353 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires hospitals to make publicly available information on charges for most commonly used services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-10-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [A3353 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3353-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RUBEN J. RAMOS, JR.
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires hospitals to make publicly available information on charges for most commonly used services.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning hospital charges and supplementing P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A general hospital licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) shall be required to make available for public display on a website designated by the Commissioner of Health, and in a manner prescribed by regulation of the commissioner, information for the combined 25 most commonly used diagnosis related groups at that hospital, as used under the federal Medicare program established pursuant to Pub.L.89-97 (42 U.S.C. s.1395 et seq.) and as set forth in subsection b. of this section.
b. (1) The information to be made available pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include the data set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection that are presented for the hospital and comparable data for the combined 25 most commonly used diagnosis related groups at:
(a) all hospitals in the county in which the hospital is located;
(b) all hospitals in the State with a similar licensed bed capacity;
(c) in the case of a teaching hospital, all hospitals in the State that are in the same teaching category as that hospital; and
(d) all hospitals Statewide.
(2) The following data shall be posted for comparative purposes on the designated website as described in paragraph (1) of this subsection:
(a) average charges;
(b) average per diem charges;
(c) median charges;
(d) the average length of stay; and
(e) the number of discharges.
c. A hospital that is subject to the provisions of this act shall be required to provide a link on its website to the website that is designated pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
d. The designated website shall prominently display the following notice to viewers:
"Patients who have health insurance coverage and are seeking to determine the impact that a hospital stay will have on their insurance deductible or co-pay should contact their insurer directly to determine the payment negotiated between the insurer and the hospital. Other questions can be raised directly with the patient's physician or the hospital."
e. The Commissioner of Health shall ensure that the information posted on the designated website is periodically updated to reflect reasonably current data.
2. The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals and pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, but the Commissioner of Health may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires each licensed general hospital in the State to make publicly available information on charges for its most commonly used services. The purpose of this bill is to allow health care consumers to compare hospitals based on average charges and lengths of stay, using standardized categories that facilitate such a comparison between hospitals across New Jersey.
The hospital is required to make available, for public display on a website designated by the Commissioner of Health, and in a manner prescribed by regulation of the commissioner, information for the combined 25 most commonly used diagnosis related groups at that hospital as used under the federal Medicare program.
The information to be made available is to include specified data that are presented for the hospital and comparable data for the combined 25 most commonly used diagnosis related groups at: all hospitals in the county in which the hospital is located; all hospitals in the State with a similar licensed bed capacity; in the case of a teaching hospital, all hospitals in the State that are in the same teaching category as that hospital; and all hospitals Statewide.
The following data are to be posted for comparative purposes on the designated website: average charges; average per diem charges; median charges; the average length of stay; and the number of discharges.
A hospital will be required to provide a link on its website to the designated website that includes the specified data about hospital charges. The designated website is to prominently display the following notice to viewers:
"Patients who have health insurance coverage and are seeking to determine the impact that a hospital stay will have on their insurance deductible or co-pay should contact their insurer directly to determine the payment negotiated between the insurer and the hospital. Other questions can be raised directly with the patient's physician or the hospital."
The Commissioner of Health is to ensure that the information posted on the designated website is periodically updated to reflect reasonably current data.
The Commissioner of Health is to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill in consultation with the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals.
The bill takes effect on the first day of the seventh month after enactment, but authorizes the Commissioner of Health to take prior administrative action as necessary for its implementation.
