Bill > HB2736

This bill requires non-disproportionate share hospitals, which are healthcare facilities that do not primarily serve a high volume of low-income or uninsured patients, to screen all uninsured patients for eligibility for the hospital's financial assistance programs or charity care policies, following a process established by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Hospitals are prohibited from garnishing wages or reporting medical debt to credit bureaus until they have verified a patient's ineligibility for financial assistance or charity care. The screening must be conducted within 90 days after a patient is discharged, and any applicable discounts or full cost coverage must be applied before a bill is sent. Billing statements must also include information about the availability of financial assistance, contact details for the relevant hospital department, and the internet address for the financial assistance policy. Patients can appeal adverse determinations regarding their eligibility or the amount of charity care awarded, and if a hospital makes an incorrect determination, it must refund any overpayment and reimburse the patient for reasonable associated costs, including legal expenses. If medical debt was incorrectly sold or sent to a collection agency, the hospital must notify the agency that the debt is invalid and ensure the patient's credit report is corrected within 90 days.

Business and Industry

Insurance (House)

https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2736/