Bill > AB1312

This bill requires hospitals to automatically determine patients' presumptive eligibility for charity care or discounted payment based on specific criteria, including enrollment in programs like CalFresh, CalWORKs, and other government assistance programs, or being uninsured. Hospitals must prescreen patients for eligibility before discharge and adjust hospital charges accordingly before sending a billing statement. The bill allows hospitals to use third-party software or services to conduct prescreening, with conditions that protect patients' privacy and credit scores. Hospitals must document their prescreening methods and provide written notices to patients in their preferred language, explaining their eligibility status or informing them about the hospital's charity care and discount payment policies. The goal is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible by proactively identifying patients who may qualify for financial assistance, reducing the burden of medical bills on low-income individuals. Starting July 1, 2026, hospitals must establish a transparent, public process for prescreening patients that includes disclosing the software and services used in eligibility determinations.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1312