Relating to the disclosure of the prices charged for health services rendered by health care providers and hospitals

This bill relates to the disclosure of prices charged by health care providers and hospitals for common health services. The bill requires a health care provider to disclose and make available to the public in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the provider’s internet site, the prices charged, prior to the negotiation of any discounts and assuming no medical complications, for the most common health services the health care provider renders. The health services are to be identified by a common nationally recognized coding system and by a plain language description, and the health care provider is required to update the price information at least annually. The bill requires hospitals to disclose and make available to the public in a single document, either electronically or by posting conspicuously on the hospital’s internet site, the prices charged, prior to the negotiation of any discounts and assuming no medical complications, for the most common inpatient and the most common outpatient health services, as grouped by a Medicare diagnosis-related group, rendered by the hospital. The price information is required to be updated on a quarterly basis. The bill provides that the price information disclosed shall include a disclaimer that the price information provided is an estimate, does not constitute a legally binding charge for a health service provided to a specific consumer, and that the actual charge for a health service is dependent on the circumstances at the time the service is rendered. administrative rules to ensure that requirements under the bill are consistent with and do not duplicate federal requirements related to the disclosure of prices charged by health care providers and hospitals, specifically including those required under the federal Affordable Care Act regarding the publicizing of standard hospital charges.