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Bill > S1688


US S1688

US S1688
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the full disclosure of billing and service information to patients.


summary

Introduced
05/23/2019
In Committee
05/23/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the full disclosure of billing and service information to patients. This bill establishes certain requirements relating to health care billing practices. Specifically, the bill requires health care facilities and practitioners to (1) provide patients with a list of rendered services upon discharge, and (2) send all bills to patients within 30 business days. Further, patients may not be required to pay a bill earlier than 30 business days from the date of receipt. Facilities and practitioners must report any bills that are sent outside of the authorized time period to the Department of Health and Human Services and must also issue refunds to the patients billed; repeated violations are subject to civil penalties.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require healthcare facilities and practitioners to provide patients with a list of services rendered upon discharge and to send all bills to patients within 30 business days. The bill also prohibits patients from being required to pay a bill earlier than 30 business days after receiving it. If a facility or practitioner violates the 30-day billing requirement, they must report the late bill to the Department of Health and Human Services and refund the patient with interest. Repeated violations may result in civil monetary penalties of up to $10,000 per day, starting on the date the facility or practitioner sends the tenth late bill.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (on 05/23/2019)

bill text


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