summary
Introduced
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
In Committee
02/24/2026
02/24/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Makes changes to findings and defined terms provisions. Provides that a hospital shall not deny any protection or benefit of the Act on the basis of a patient's citizenship or immigration status or assets or prospective assets. Provides that a patient who inquires about a denial of financial assistance in whole or in part must be permitted to appeal the decision within at least 90 days. Requires a hospital to use only a uniform financial assistance form developed and provided by the Attorney General no later than December 31, 2026. Provides that every hospital bill and every collection notice must notify the patient, in the patient's preferred language, of the availability of hospital financial assistance and charity care. Establishes further provisions concerning hospitals pursuing collection actions; outsourced health care services; patient responsibilities; and applicability of the Act. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Sets forth provisions concerning uninsured patient discounts for specified income levels. Prohibits hospitals from making the availability of a discount under the Act contingent upon the uninsured patient first applying for coverage under public health insurance programs. Provides that patients may not be denied a discount under the Act on the basis of citizenship or immigration status or assets or prospective assets. Makes other changes concerning uninsured patient discounts, outsourcing health care services, and patient responsibilities. Effective immediately.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Fair Patient Billing Act and the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act to enhance patient protections and clarify billing practices. Key provisions include prohibiting hospitals from denying benefits based on a patient's citizenship, immigration status, or assets, and granting patients at least 90 days to appeal denials of financial assistance. Hospitals will be required to use a uniform financial assistance form developed by the Attorney General by December 31, 2026, and all bills and collection notices must inform patients about available financial assistance and charity care in their preferred language. The bill also clarifies that hospitals are responsible for ensuring that outsourced healthcare services provided within their facilities adhere to the same screening, billing, and collection protections as services provided directly by the hospital. Furthermore, it modifies rules regarding uninsured patient discounts, including prohibiting discounts from being contingent on patients first applying for public health insurance and ensuring discounts cannot be denied based on citizenship, immigration status, or assets. The bill also introduces new provisions for uninsured patient discounts based on income levels and caps on the amount patients must pay annually.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Assigned to Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee (on 02/24/2026)
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