TL/DR –
The Senate unanimously passed a health care transparency bill, HB 7089, which aims to increase patient access to health care cost and coverage information from hospitals and insurers for nonemergency services. The bill requires hospitals to provide a good faith estimate of services to patients for scheduled services and procedures, and mandates the insurance company to provide customers an advanced explanation of benefits. The bill also enforces consumer protections for health care debt, and is part of the Live Healthy package, which was a priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.
The Senate Approves Health Care Transparency Bill
With unanimous consent, the Senate passed a health care transparency bill, HB 7089, furthering House Speaker Paul Renner’s priority. The bill, offering improved patient access to health care cost and coverage details, now awaits final passage in the House.
The Provision of HB 7089
This bill mandates hospitals to provide patients and their insurers a good faith estimate of services for scheduled procedures, enhancing nonemergency services’ transparency. Insurance companies must also offer an advanced explanation of benefits within a business day of receiving the patient estimate or within three business days for services scheduled after two weeks.
Expanded Transparency and Consumer Protection
The bill stipulates that this explanation must include detailed coverage and cost-sharing information as per new federal law. Additionally, it requires hospitals to post on their website a consumer-friendly list of standard charges for at least 300 shoppable health care services or an internet-based price estimator tool compliant with federal standards. Furthermore, HB 7089 strengthens consumer protections against health care debt by limiting hospitals’ collection actions and data sharing.
The Live Healthy Package
Sen. Jay Collins filed the Senate version of this bill, part of the Live Healthy package championed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. Collins expressed concern over the health care debt burdening 40% of U.S. adults, affirming that the legislation would significantly improve cost transparency and protect patients from harsh debt collection practices. Passidomo’s health care priority also includes other bills under the Live Healthy banner such as SB 7016, SB 7018, and SB 1758.
Passidomo’s Opposition to Medicaid Expansion
However, Passidomo did not incorporate a plan for expanding Medicaid coverage to uninsured childless adults in the Live Healthy package. She reiterated her opposition to Medicaid expansion on the opening day of the 2024 Session and during the media availability this week. The Senate also sent SB 1112, another health care bill prioritized by Passidomo, to the House earlier.
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