Limits On Hospital Facility Fees

The bill defines "health-care provider" as a person that is licensed or otherwise authorized in this state to furnish a health-care service, which includes a hospital and other providers and health facilities.

The bill prohibits a health-care provider (provider) affiliated with or owned by a hospital or health system from charging a facility fee for health-care services furnished by the provider for:

• Outpatient services provided at an off-campus location or through telehealth; or
• Certain outpatient, diagnostic, or imaging services identified by the medical services board as services that may be provided safely, reliably, and effectively in nonhospital settings.

The bill:

• Requires a provider that charges a facility fee to provide notice to a patient that the provider charges the fee and to use a standardized bill that includes itemized charges identifying the facility fee, as well as other information;
• Requires the administrator of the all-payer health claims database to prepare an annual report of the number and amount of facility fees by payer, codes with the highest total paid amounts and highest volume, and other information; and
• Makes it a deceptive trade practice to charge, bill, or collect a facility fee when doing so is prohibited.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)