Bill Text: NJ S2475 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Limits rescheduling, cancelation, and no-show fees providers of health care services may charge in certain instances.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-12-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S2475 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S2475-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Limits rescheduling, cancelation, and no-show fees providers of health care services may charge in certain instances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning fees charged by providers of health care services and supplementing chapter 8 of Title 56 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this section, "provider of health care services" shall have the meaning as defined in subsection i. of section 1 of P.L.1985, c.236 (C.17:48E-1). No provider of health care services shall charge a new or returning patient any fee for canceling or rescheduling more than 24 hours in advance of an appointment. A provider of health care services may charge a new or returning patient a fee of not more than $25 for canceling or rescheduling less than 24 hours in advance of an appointment, or failing to appear at a scheduled appointment, if the patient:
a. was given notification, orally or in writing, at the time when the appointment was made that a fee would apply; and
b. had previously canceled or rescheduled less than 24 hours in advance of an appointment made for the same or a similar reason, or failed to appear at a scheduled appointment, on two, separate, previous occasions in the past six months.
2. A person who violates the provisions of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $500 for the first violation, and not more than $1,000 for the second and any subsequent violation. The civil penalty shall be collected pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), in a summary proceeding before the municipal court having jurisdiction.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would prohibit a health care provider from charging a patient a fee for rescheduling or canceling an appointment more than 24 hours in advance. In addition, the bill would prohibit the assessment of fees for canceling or rescheduling less than 24 hours in advance of an appointment, or failing to appear at a scheduled appointment, unless the patient: (1) was given notification at the time when the appointment was made that a fee would apply, and (2) previously canceled or rescheduled an appointment for the same or a similar reason less than 24 hours in advance, or failed to appear at a scheduled appointment, on two previous occasions in the past six months.
Under the bill, the maximum fee that could be assessed for rescheduling, canceling, or failing to appear at a scheduled appointment would be $25.
The penalty for a violation of the bill would be up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense.
