Bill > H997

This bill aims to protect health care consumers from surprise billing. It has several key provisions: 1. It restricts when healthcare providers can charge facility fees, allowing them only for services provided on a hospital's campus, at a facility with a licensed emergency department, or at a licensed satellite emergency facility. It prohibits facility fees for services that can be safely and effectively provided in non-hospital settings. 2. It requires healthcare providers to provide written notice to patients about any facility fees they will be charged, with the timing and method of the notice depending on how far in advance the appointment is scheduled. 3. It requires healthcare providers to clearly identify their facilities as being associated with a hospital. 4. It prohibits healthcare providers from billing patients for "surprise bills" related to unforeseen out-of-network services, requiring the provider to accept the insurer's median contracted rate as payment in full. 5. It imposes penalties for non-compliance and gives the Attorney General authority to investigate violations and take enforcement action.

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H997