(a) Each hospital shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain from the patient or his or her representative information about whether private or public health insurance or sponsorship may fully or partially cover the charges for care rendered by the hospital to a patient, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(1) Private health insurance, including coverage offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange.
(2) Medicare.
(3) The Medi-Cal program, the Healthy Families Program, the California Children’s Services program, or other state-funded programs designed to provide health coverage.
(b) If a hospital bills a patient who has not provided proof of coverage by a third party at the time the care is provided or upon discharge, as a part of that billing, the hospital shall provide the patient with a clear and conspicuous notice that includes all of the following:
(1) A statement of charges for services rendered by the hospital.
(2) A request that the patient inform the hospital if the patient has health insurance coverage, Medicare, Healthy Families Program, Medi-Cal, or other coverage.
(3) A statement that, if the consumer does not have health insurance coverage, the consumer may be eligible for Medicare, Healthy Families Program, Medi-Cal, coverage offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange, California Children’s Services program, other state- or county-funded health coverage, or charity care.
(4) A statement indicating how patients may obtain applications for the Medi-Cal program and the Healthy Families Program, coverage offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange, or other state- or county-funded health coverage programs and that the hospital will provide these applications. The hospital shall also provide patients with a referral to a local consumer assistance center housed at legal services offices. If the patient does not indicate coverage by a third-party payer specified in subdivision (a) or requests a discounted price or charity care, then the hospital shall provide an application for the Medi-Cal program, the Healthy Families Program, or other state- or county-funded health coverage programs. This application shall be provided prior to discharge if the patient has been admitted or to patients receiving emergency or outpatient care.
(5) Information regarding the financially qualified patient and charity care application, including the following:
(A) A statement that indicates that if the patient lacks, or has inadequate, insurance, and meets certain low- and moderate-income requirements, the patient may qualify for discounted payment or charity care.
(B) The name and telephone number of a hospital employee or office from whom or which the patient may obtain information about the hospital’s discount payment and charity care policies, and how to apply for that assistance.
(C) If a patient applies, or has a pending application, for another health coverage program at the same time that he or she applies for a hospital charity care or discount payment program, neither application shall preclude eligibility for the other program.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 758, Sec. 3. (SB 1276) Effective January 1, 2015.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018