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 (provider) and hospitals for common health services (services). The bill requires a provider to disclose and make available to the public in a single document, either electronically or on the provider’s internet site, the prices charged, prior to the negotiation of any discounts and assuming no medical complications, for the 25 most common services the provider renders. The services are to be identified by a common nationally recognized coding system and by a plain language description, and the 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 on the hospital’s internet site, the prices charged, prior to the negotiation of any discounts and assuming no medical complications, for the 75 most common inpatient and the 75 most common outpatient 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 information provided is an estimate, does not constitute a legally binding charge for a service provided to a specific consumer, and that the actual charge for a service is dependent on the circumstances at the time the service is rendered. The bill directs the department of health and human services to adopt rules to ensure that the bill’s requirements are consistent with and do not duplicate federal requirements related to the disclosure of prices charged by providers and hospitals.