Bill > S03188

This bill amends public health law to establish new rules regarding physician charges for missed appointments, preventing physicians licensed under article 131 of the education law from charging a fee if a patient cancels or changes an appointment at least twenty-four hours in advance. It also mandates that if a physician has a policy for charging missed appointment fees, this policy must be clearly posted in the waiting room and included with mailed bills, and no fee can be charged without this advance written notice. Furthermore, a physician cannot charge a missed appointment fee if a patient arrives on time but waits longer than one hour after their scheduled appointment time without being seen. The bill also clarifies that it does not authorize fees prohibited by other laws or ethical guidelines, and physicians who violate these provisions may face fines and be required to refund any collected fees.