Requires hospitals to notify patients of a non-participating physician or health care provider providing treatment at a participating hospital

BILL NUMBER:S182

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to patient notification of services provided by non-participating providers at a participating hospital

Purpose

Requires hospitals to notify patients of a non-participating physician or health care provider providing treatment at a participating hospital.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends the public health law by adding § 2805-s. Section 2 is the effective date.

Justification

The difficulties patients encounter when seeking treatment for a serious ailment or disease can be trying. In addition to dealing with the trauma and anxiety of their condition, patients and their families are also troubled with understanding a complex health care system. When choosing a doctor and a treatment path, discovering what your insurance covers and what it does not cover can bring added stress. Many patients try hard to abide by the rules of their insurance provider by going to great lengths to select hospitals which accept their insurance. However sometimes, specialists do not accept a patients insurance, even though they practice within a hospital that does. This bill requires hospitals to notify patients if the physician providing them treatment does not accept their insurance. This will help alleviate undue financial hardship, which is incurred when a bill is received only after treatment has been administered. This will help patients make more informed decisions regarding which specialists they see for treatment.

Legislative history

S.2539 of 2009-2010; Referred to Health

Fiscal implications

None to State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.