Bill > HB278

This bill requires hospitals in Kentucky to make their standard charges for all facility items and services publicly available in a machine-readable digital format and a consumer-friendly list for "shoppable services" (services that can be scheduled in advance). Hospitals must maintain a "chargemaster," which is a list of all standard charges, including gross charges, discounted cash prices, and negotiated rates with different insurance providers (payor-specific negotiated charges), and this list must be updated at least annually and accessible on their website without requiring registration. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services (the "Cabinet") will create a template for these chargemasters, monitor hospital compliance, and can impose administrative penalties, which vary based on hospital size and the duration of non-compliance, for violations. Furthermore, hospitals that are not in compliance with federal hospital price transparency laws when providing services cannot pursue debt collection actions against patients for those services, and if found out of compliance, they may have to refund payments, pay penalties to patients, and remove negative credit reports.

Health and Social Services

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb278.html