AMENDED IN SENIOR ASSEMBLY OCTOBER 30, 2012

SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 34

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER SOWMA

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 34: HOSPITAL DISCLOSURES: ADDITIONAL COSTS

EXISTING LAW, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PAYERS’ BILL OF RIGHTS, REQUIRES A HOSPITAL TO MAKE A WRITTEN OR ELECTRONIC COPY OF ITS CHARGE DESCRIPTION MASTER, AS DEFINED, AVAILABLE EITHER ON THE HOSPITAL’S INTERNET WEB SITE OR AT THE HOSPITAL LOCATION.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO DISCLOSE TO PATIENTS ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A PROCEDURE BEFORE THE PATIENT UNDERGOES THAT PROCEDURE, ESPECIALLY THOSE COSTS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE PATIENT’S HEALTH INSURANCE.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 34: RELATING TO HOSPITAL DISCLOSURES

WHEREAS, HOSPITALS BILL PATIENTS FOR ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE AND NOT DISCLOSED BY THE HOSPITAL, SUCH AS THE COST OF A NURSE ANESTHETIST; AND

WHEREAS, A PATIENT STILL IN PAIN FROM A PROCEDURE IS SUBJECTED TO ADDITIONAL PAIN BY THE COSTS NOT COVERED BY HIS OR HER HEALTH INSURANCE; AND

WHEREAS, IF A PATIENT IS PRESENTED WITH COMPLETE INFORMATION REGARDING ADDITIONAL COSTS NOT COVERED BY HIS OR HER HEALTH INSURANCE AHEAD OF TIME, HE OR SHE IS BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE THE COSTS AND ADDRESS THEM WHILE RECUPERATING; AND

WHEREAS, A PATIENT THAT IS PRESENTED WITH COMPLETE INFORMATION REGARDING ADDITIONAL COSTS NOT COVERED BY HIS OR HER HEALTH INSURANCE AHEAD OF TIME WILL NOT HAVE TO ENDURE THE HASSLE OF CONTACTING THE HOSPITAL AND DISPUTING THE ADDITIONAL COSTS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT HOSPITALS BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE TO PATIENTS ALL COSTS EXPECTED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A PROCEDURE BEFORE THE PATIENT UNDERGOES THAT PROCEDURE, ESPECIALLY THOSE COSTS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE PATIENT’S HEALTH INSURANCE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

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RN 12 16495