What's happening
This bill requires health care providers to inform patients in writing of service fees before treatment if not covered by insurance.
Why it matters
Empowers patients to make informed financial decisions. by ensuring they know the potential out-of-pocket costs for health care services before treatment if insurance does not cover the fees.
Applies broadly to nearly all types of health care providers and facilities,. including individual practitioners, hospitals, home health agencies, labs, pharmacies, and ambulance services, increasing transparency across the health system.
May help reduce surprise billing and unexpected medical debt. by requiring written notice of fees, enabling patients to compare costs, seek clarification, or explore alternatives before committing to care.
Could encourage more consistent and transparent billing practices. among providers, promoting greater accountability and trust between patients and the health care system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Disclose Health Care Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Show Health Care Prices
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Brian Barnwell
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
77
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sens. HOYLMAN, PERKINS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to enacting the "transparency in health care fees act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "transparency in health care fees act".
§ 2. Article 29-D of the public health law is amended by adding a new title 4-A to read as follows:
TITLE 4-A
BILLING Section 2999-l. Health care bills.
§ 2999-l. Health care bills. 1. For purposes of this title "health care provider" shall mean a practitioner in an individual practice, group practice, partnership, professional corporation or other authorized form of association, a hospital or other health care institution issued an operating certificate pursuant to this chapter or the mental hygiene law, a certified home health agency or a licensed home care services agency, and any other purveyor of health or health related items or services including but not limited to a clinical laboratory, a physiological laboratory, a pharmacy, a purveyor of x-ray or imaging services, a purveyor of physical therapy services, a purveyor of health or health related supplies, appliances or equipment, or an ambulance service.
2. Prior to performing any health care services, all health care providers shall advise patients in writing of the fee to be charged to the patient for the services to be rendered in the event such fee is not paid for by insurance.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00433-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to enacting the "transparency in health care fees act"
Purpose or general idea of bill
To clarify costs of healthcare procedures to patients before they undertake medical services.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 titles the bill.
Section 2 amends article 29-D of the public health law by adding a new title 4 to define which health care bills will be covered by the legislation and to require all health care providers to advise patients in writing of the fee they will be charged for procedures before the services are rendered if the fee will not be paid for by insurance.
Section 3 provides for the effective date.
Justification
Costs for healthcare procedures are often not discussed with patients until after they have received treatment or services. This practice obscures the true cost of treatment to patients, leaving many unaware of the amount of medical bills they are incurring and what their insurance will pay for. This legislation brings clarity to medical billing and allows healthcare consumers to know exactly what they will be charged for services before they undergoing treatment.
Legislative history
S.344 of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Health A.250 of 2015-2016 (Rozic): Died in Health S.7124 of 2014 (Hoylman): Died in Health A.3518 of 2013-2014 (Rozic): Died in Health
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.