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Connecticut House Bill HB06740

Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06740 Compare Versions

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77 General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6740
88 January Session, 2023
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1414 AN ACT CONCERNING HOSPITAL FINANCIAL POLICIES.
1515 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1616 Assembly convened:
1717
18-Section 1. Section 19a-673b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
19-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 2
18+Section 1. Section 19a-673b of the general statutes is repealed and 1
19+the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 2
2020 (a) As used in this section: 3
2121 (1) "Affiliated with" means (A) employed by a hospital or health 4
2222 system, (B) under a professional services agreement with a hospital or 5
2323 health system that permits such hospital or health system to bill on 6
2424 behalf of such entity, or (C) a clinical faculty member of a medical 7
2525 school, as defined in section 33-182aa, who is affiliated with a hospital 8
26-or health system in a manner that permits such hospital or health system 9
27-to bill on behalf of such clinical faculty member. 10
26+or health system in a manner that permits such hospital or health 9
27+system to bill on behalf of such clinical faculty member. 10
2828 (2) "Owned by" means owned by a hospital or health system when 11
2929 billed under the hospital's tax identification number. 12
3030 (3) "Hospital financial assistance" means any program administered 13
31-by a hospital that reduces, in whole or in part, a patient's liability for the 14
32-cost of providing services, as defined in section 19a-673. 15
33-(b) No hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, or entity that is owned 16 Substitute Bill No. 6740
31+by a hospital that reduces, in whole or in part, a patient's liability for 14
32+the cost of providing services, as defined in section 19a-673. 15
33+(b) No hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, or entity that is owned 16
34+by or affiliated with such hospital shall refer to a collection agent, as 17 Substitute Bill No. 6740
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40-by or affiliated with such hospital shall refer to a collection agent, as 17
41-defined in section 19a-509b, as amended by this act, or initiate an action 18
42-against an individual patient or such patient's estate to collect fees 19
43-arising from health care provided at a hospital or entity that is owned 20
44-by or affiliated with such hospital on or after October 1, 2003, unless the 21
45-hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital has 22
46-determined that such individual patient is an uninsured patient, as 23
47-defined in section 19a-673, who is ineligible for the hospital bed fund or 24
48-hospital financial assistance. 25
41+defined in section 19a-509b, as amended by this act, or initiate an 18
42+action against an individual patient or such patient's estate to collect 19
43+fees arising from health care provided at a hospital or entity that is 20
44+owned by or affiliated with such hospital on or after October 1, 2003, 21
45+unless the hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such 22
46+hospital has determined that such individual patient is an uninsured 23
47+patient, as defined in section 19a-673, who is ineligible for the hospital 24
48+bed fund or hospital financial assistance. 25
4949 (c) On or after October 1, 2022, no hospital or entity that is owned by 26
5050 or affiliated with such hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, and no 27
5151 collection agent, as defined in section 19a-509b, as amended by this act, 28
5252 that receives a referral from a hospital or entity that is owned by or 29
5353 affiliated with such hospital, shall: 30
5454 (1) Report an individual patient to a credit rating agency, as defined 31
5555 in section 36a-695, for a period of one year beginning on the date that 32
5656 such patient first receives a bill for health care provided by the hospital 33
57-or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital to such patient 34
58-on or after October 1, 2022; 35
57+or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital to such 34
58+patient on or after October 1, 2022; 35
5959 (2) Initiate an action to foreclose a lien on an individual patient's 36
60-primary residence if the lien was filed to secure payment for health care 37
61-provided by the hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with 38
62-such hospital to such patient on or after October 1, 2022; or 39
60+primary residence if the lien was filed to secure payment for health 37
61+care provided by the hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated 38
62+with such hospital to such patient on or after October 1, 2022; or 39
6363 (3) Apply to a court for an execution against an individual patient's 40
6464 wages pursuant to section 52-361a, or otherwise seek to garnish such 41
6565 patient's wages, to collect payment for health care provided by the 42
6666 hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital to 43
67-such patient on or after October 1, 2022, if such patient is eligible for the 44
68-hospital bed fund. 45
67+such patient on or after October 1, 2022, if such patient is eligible for 44
68+the hospital bed fund. 45
6969 (d) Nothing in subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall affect the 46
70-ability of a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such 47 Substitute Bill No. 6740
70+ability of a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such 47
71+hospital to initiate an action against an individual patient or such 48 Substitute Bill No. 6740
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77-hospital to initiate an action against an individual patient or such 48
7878 patient's estate to collect coinsurance, deductibles or fees arising from 49
79-health care provided at a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated 50
80-with such hospital where such coinsurance, deductibles or fees may be 51
81-eligible for reimbursement through awards, settlements or judgments 52
82-arising from claims, suits or proceedings. In addition, nothing in said 53
83-subsections shall affect the ability of a hospital or entity that is owned 54
84-by or affiliated with such hospital to initiate an action against an 55
85-individual patient or such patient's estate where payment or 56
79+health care provided at a hospital or entity that is owned by or 50
80+affiliated with such hospital where such coinsurance, deductibles or 51
81+fees may be eligible for reimbursement through awards, settlements or 52
82+judgments arising from claims, suits or proceedings. In addition, 53
83+nothing in said subsections shall affect the ability of a hospital or entity 54
84+that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital to initiate an action 55
85+against an individual patient or such patient's estate where payment or 56
8686 reimbursement has been made, or likely is to be made, directly to the 57
8787 patient. 58
88-Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2023) (a) As used in this section, (1) 59
89-"hospital" has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-490 of the 60
90-general statutes; and (2) "hospital financial assistance" means any 61
88+Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2023) (a) As used in this section, 59
89+(1) "hospital" has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-490 of 60
90+the general statutes; and (2) "hospital financial assistance" means any 61
9191 program administered by a hospital that reduces, in whole or in part, a 62
92-patient's liability for the cost of providing services, as defined in section 63
93-19a-673 of the general statutes. 64
92+patient's liability for the cost of providing services, as defined in 63
93+section 19a-673 of the general statutes. 64
9494 (b) On and after October 1, 2023, each hospital shall provide hospital 65
9595 financial assistance to any patient, regardless of such patient's 66
9696 immigration status, who is enrolled in (1) the federal Supplemental 67
9797 Nutrition Assistance Program, or (2) the federal Special Supplemental 68
9898 Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, provided such 69
9999 hospital has verified that the patient's household income does not 70
100100 exceed two hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty level, without 71
101101 an asset limit, using software that conforms to industry standards 72
102102 concerning electronic income verification. Such hospital shall not 73
103103 require the patient to apply for the Connecticut medical assistance 74
104104 program, Medicare, other government-funded coverage or insurance 75
105105 through the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange prior to providing 76
106106 hospital financial assistance, unless the hospital has a reasonable basis 77
107-to believe that the patient will qualify for one or more of such programs. 78
108-(c) If a hospital provides hospital financial assistance to a patient 79
109-pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, such financial assistance shall 80 Substitute Bill No. 6740
107+to believe that the patient will qualify for one or more of such 78
108+programs. 79
109+(c) If a hospital provides hospital financial assistance to a patient 80
110+pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, such financial assistance shall 81 Substitute Bill No. 6740
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116-cover all of the services and supplies that are medically necessary for 81
117-the patient. 82
118-(d) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Health Systems Planning Unit 83
119-of the Office of Health Strategy shall develop, in consultation with an 84
120-association of hospitals in the state, a uniform application for hospital 85
121-financial assistance and make such application available on the unit's 86
122-Internet web site. Each hospital shall accept such application when filed 87
123-by a patient seeking hospital financial assistance pursuant to subsection 88
124-(b) of this section. The Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of 89
125-Health Strategy may periodically revise such application, as deemed 90
126-necessary by the executive director of said unit. Not later than ninety 91
127-days after the unit posts such application on its Internet web site, each 92
128-hospital shall make such form available in the hospital's patient 93
129-admissions office, emergency department, social services department 94
130-and patient accounts or billing office. Each hospital shall include (1) the 95
131-link to the Internet web site where such form is posted on all billing 96
132-statements issued by the hospital, and (2) a paper copy of such form in 97
133-hospital discharge paperwork provided to each patient. If a hospital 98
134-reasonably believes, during the admissions process or its review of the 99
135-financial resources of a patient, that the patient may have insufficient 100
136-funds to pay for any portion of the patient's hospitalization that is not 101
137-covered by the patient's insurance, the hospital shall provide such form 102
138-to the patient. Each hospital shall require each of its collection agents to 103
139-include such form in each bill and collection notice the collection agent 104
140-sends to a patient. 105
141-(e) The Attorney General may investigate the facts and circumstances 106
142-concerning any alleged violation of this section and, in connection with 107
143-such investigation, issue subpoenas and written interrogatories in the 108
144-same manner and to the same extent as provided in section 35-42 of the 109
145-general statutes. 110
146-Sec. 3. Section 19a-649 of the general statutes is repealed and the 111
147-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 112 Substitute Bill No. 6740
117+cover all of the services and supplies that are medically necessary for 82
118+the patient. 83
119+(d) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Health Systems Planning Unit 84
120+of the Office of Health Strategy shall develop, in consultation with an 85
121+association of hospitals in the state, a uniform application for hospital 86
122+financial assistance and make such application available on the unit's 87
123+Internet web site. Each hospital shall accept such application when 88
124+filed by a patient seeking hospital financial assistance pursuant to 89
125+subsection (b) of this section. The Health Systems Planning Unit of the 90
126+Office of Health Strategy may periodically revise such application, as 91
127+deemed necessary by the executive director of said unit. Not later than 92
128+ninety days after the unit posts such application on its Internet web 93
129+site, each hospital shall make such form available in the hospital's 94
130+patient admissions office, emergency department, social services 95
131+department and patient accounts or billing office. Each hospital shall 96
132+include (1) the link to the Internet web site where such form is posted 97
133+on all billing statements issued by the hospital, and (2) a paper copy of 98
134+such form in hospital discharge paperwork provided to each patient. If 99
135+a hospital reasonably believes, during the admissions process or its 100
136+review of the financial resources of a patient, that the patient may have 101
137+insufficient funds to pay for any portion of the patient's hospitalization 102
138+that is not covered by the patient's insurance, the hospital shall provide 103
139+such form to the patient. Each hospital shall require each of its 104
140+collection agents to include such form in each bill and collection notice 105
141+the collection agent sends to a patient. 106
142+(e) The Attorney General may investigate the facts a nd 107
143+circumstances concerning any alleged violation of this section and, in 108
144+connection with such investigation, issue subpoenas and written 109
145+interrogatories in the same manner and to the same extent as provided 110
146+in section 35-42 of the general statutes. 111
147+Sec. 3. Section 19a-649 of the general statutes is repealed and the 112
148+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 113 Substitute Bill No. 6740
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154-(a) The unit shall review annually the level of uncompensated care 113
155-provided by each hospital to the indigent. Each hospital shall file 114
156-annually with the unit its policies regarding the provision of charity care 115
157-and [reduced cost services to the indigent] hospital financial assistance, 116
158-as defined in section 2 of this act, excluding medical assistance 117
159-recipients, and its debt collection practices. A hospital shall file its 118
160-audited financial statements not later than February twenty-eighth, [of 119
161-each year] annually, except a health system, as defined in section 19a-120
162-508c, may file one such statement that includes the audited financial 121
163-statements for each hospital within the health system. Not later than 122
164-March thirty-first, [of each year] annually, the hospital shall file a 123
165-verification of the hospital's net revenue for the most recently completed 124
166-fiscal year in a format prescribed by the unit. 125
167-(b) Each hospital shall annually report, along with data submitted 126
168-pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, (1) the number of applicants 127
169-for charity care and [reduced cost services, (2)] hospital financial 128
170-assistance, (2) the number of patients requesting or reasonably believed 129
171-to have a need for hospital financial assistance pursuant to section 2 of 130
172-this act, (3) the number of approved applicants [, and (3)] for charity care 131
173-and hospital financial assistance, (4) the total and average charges and 132
174-costs of the amount of charity care and [reduced cost services provided] 133
175-hospital financial assistance provided, (5) the number of patients a 134
176-hospital directly assisted in applying for hospital financial assistance, (6) 135
177-the number of patients a hospital provided with language translation 136
178-assistance in applying for hospital financial assistance, (7) the race, 137
179-ethnicity and insurance status of all applicants for hospital financial 138
180-assistance, including such applicants whom the hospital reasonably 139
181-believed to have a need for such assistance pursuant to section 2 of this 140
182-act, (8) the race, ethnicity and insurance status of all patients approved 141
183-for hospital financial assistance, (9) the race, ethnicity and insurance 142
184-status of all patients whose hospital debt was referred to a collection 143
185-agent, and (10) the race, ethnicity and insurance status of all patients 144
186-sued by the hospital or its collection agent for the purpose of collecting 145
187-a debt. 146 Substitute Bill No. 6740
155+(a) The unit shall review annually the level of uncompensated care 114
156+provided by each hospital to the indigent. Each hospital shall file 115
157+annually with the unit its policies regarding the provision of charity 116
158+care and [reduced cost services to the indigent] hospital financial 117
159+assistance, as defined in section 2 of this act, excluding medical 118
160+assistance recipients, and its debt collection practices. A hospital shall 119
161+file its audited financial statements not later than February twenty-120
162+eighth, [of each year] annually, except a health system, as defined in 121
163+section 19a-508c, may file one such statement that includes the audited 122
164+financial statements for each hospital within the health system. Not 123
165+later than March thirty-first, [of each year] annually, the hospital shall 124
166+file a verification of the hospital's net revenue for the most recently 125
167+completed fiscal year in a format prescribed by the unit. 126
168+(b) Each hospital shall annually report, along with data submitted 127
169+pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, (1) the number of applicants 128
170+for charity care and [reduced cost services, (2)] hospital financial 129
171+assistance, (2) the number of patients requesting or reasonably 130
172+believed to have a need for hospital financial assistance pursuant to 131
173+section 2 of this act, (3) the number of approved applicants [, and (3)] 132
174+for charity care and hospital financial assistance, (4) the total and 133
175+average charges and costs of the amount of charity care and [reduced 134
176+cost services provided] hospital financial assistance provided, (5) the 135
177+number of patients a hospital directly assisted in applying for hospital 136
178+financial assistance, (6) the number of patients a hospital provided 137
179+with language translation assistance in applying for hospital financial 138
180+assistance, (7) the race, ethnicity and insurance status of all applicants 139
181+for hospital financial assistance, including such applicants whom the 140
182+hospital reasonably believed to have a need for such assistance 141
183+pursuant to section 2 of this act, (8) the race, ethnicity and insurance 142
184+status of all patients approved for hospital financial assistance, (9) the 143
185+race, ethnicity and insurance status of all patients whose hospital debt 144
186+was referred to a collection agent, and (10) the race, ethnicity and 145
187+insurance status of all patients sued by the hospital or its collection 146
188+agent for the purpose of collecting a debt. 147 Substitute Bill No. 6740
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194-(c) Each hospital recognized as a nonprofit organization under 147
195-Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 148
196-subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 149
197-as amended from time to time, shall, along with data submitted 150
198-annually pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, submit to the unit (1) 151
199-a complete copy of such hospital's most-recently completed Internal 152
200-Revenue Service form 990, including all parts and schedules; and (2) in 153
201-the form and manner prescribed by the unit, data compiled to prepare 154
202-such hospital's community health needs assessment, as required 155
203-pursuant to Section 501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 156
204-subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 157
205-as amended from time to time, provided such copy and data submitted 158
206-pursuant to this subsection shall not include: (A) Individual patient 159
207-information, including, but not limited to, patient-identifiable 160
208-information; (B) information that is not owned or controlled by such 161
209-hospital; (C) information that such hospital is contractually required to 162
210-keep confidential or that is prohibited from disclosure by a data use 163
211-agreement; or (D) information concerning research on human subjects 164
212-as described in section 45 CFR 46.101 et seq., as amended from time to 165
213-time. 166
214-Sec. 4. Section 19a-509b of the general statutes is repealed and the 167
215-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 168
216-(a) As used in this section, (1) "hospital bed fund" means any gift of 169
217-money, stock, bonds, financial instruments or other property made by 170
218-any donor for the purpose of establishing a fund to provide medical 171
219-care, including, but not limited to, inpatient or outpatient care, to 172
220-patients at a hospital. A hospital bed fund may be established by inter 173
221-vivos gift, bequest, subscription, solicitation, dedication or any other 174
222-means; (2) "hospital" [means hospital as defined] has the same meaning 175
223-as provided in section 19a-490; (3) "collection agent" means any person, 176
224-either employed by or under contract to, a hospital, who is engaged in 177
225-the business of collecting payment from consumers for medical services 178
226-provided by the hospital, and includes, but is not limited to, attorneys 179 Substitute Bill No. 6740
195+(c) Each hospital recognized as a nonprofit organization under 148
196+Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 149
197+subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 150
198+as amended from time to time, shall, along with data submitted 151
199+annually pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, submit to the unit 152
200+(1) a complete copy of such hospital's most-recently completed Internal 153
201+Revenue Service form 990, including all parts and schedules; and (2) in 154
202+the form and manner prescribed by the unit, data compiled to prepare 155
203+such hospital's community health needs assessment, as required 156
204+pursuant to Section 501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 157
205+subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 158
206+as amended from time to time, provided such copy and data submitted 159
207+pursuant to this subsection shall not include: (A) Individual patient 160
208+information, including, but not limited to, patient-identifiable 161
209+information; (B) information that is not owned or controlled by such 162
210+hospital; (C) information that such hospital is contractually required to 163
211+keep confidential or that is prohibited from disclosure by a data use 164
212+agreement; or (D) information concerning research on human subjects 165
213+as described in section 45 CFR 46.101 et seq., as amended from time to 166
214+time. 167
215+Sec. 4. Section 19a-509b of the general statutes is repealed and the 168
216+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 169
217+(a) As used in this section, (1) "hospital bed fund" means any gift of 170
218+money, stock, bonds, financial instruments or other property made by 171
219+any donor for the purpose of establishing a fund to provide medical 172
220+care, including, but not limited to, inpatient or outpatient care, to 173
221+patients at a hospital. A hospital bed fund may be established by inter 174
222+vivos gift, bequest, subscription, solicitation, dedication or any other 175
223+means; (2) "hospital" [means hospital as defined] has the same 176
224+meaning as provided in section 19a-490; (3) "collection agent" means 177
225+any person, either employed by or under contract to, a hospital, who is 178
226+engaged in the business of collecting payment from consumers for 179
227+medical services provided by the hospital, and includes, but is not 180 Substitute Bill No. 6740
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233-performing debt collection activities; and (4) "hospital financial 180
234-assistance" has the same meaning as provided in section 2 of this act. 181
235-(b) (1) Each hospital which holds or administers one or more hospital 182
236-bed funds shall post or cause to be posted in a conspicuous public place 183
237-in each patient admitting location, including, but not limited to, the 184
238-admissions office, emergency room, social services department and 185
239-patient accounts or billing office, information in English and Spanish 186
240-regarding the availability of its hospital bed funds, in plain language in 187
241-a forty-eight to seventy-two point type size. Such information shall 188
242-include: (A) Notification of the existence of hospital bed funds and the 189
243-hospital's program to administer them, and (B) the person to contact for 190
244-application information. 191
245-(2) Each hospital [which has a hospital bed fund] shall train staff, 192
246-including but not limited to, hospital social workers, discharge planners 193
247-and billing personnel concerning the existence of [such fund] any 194
248-hospital bed fund and hospital financial assistance, the eligibility 195
249-requirements for any such fund and such financial assistance, and the 196
250-procedures for [application] a patient to apply for any such fund or 197
251-financial assistance. 198
252-(c) Each hospital [that holds or administers one or more hospital bed 199
253-funds] shall make available in a place and manner allowing individual 200
254-members of the public to easily obtain it, a one-page summary in 201
255-English and Spanish describing any hospital bed funds and hospital 202
256-financial assistance and how to apply for [them] such funds, if such 203
257-funds exist, and such financial assistance. Upon request, a hospital shall 204
258-make the summary available in each additional language spoken by at 205
259-least five per cent of the population that resides in the geographic area 206
260-served by the hospital. The summary shall also describe any other 207
261-policies regarding the provision of charity care and [reduced cost 208
262-services for the indigent] other financial assistance as reported by the 209
263-hospital to the Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of Health 210
264-Strategy pursuant to section 19a-649, as amended by this act, and shall 211
265-clearly distinguish hospital bed funds and hospital financial assistance 212 Substitute Bill No. 6740
234+limited to, attorneys performing debt collection activities; and (4) 181
235+"hospital financial assistance" has the same meaning as provided in 182
236+section 2 of this act. 183
237+(b) (1) Each hospital which holds or administers one or more 184
238+hospital bed funds shall post or cause to be posted in a conspicuous 185
239+public place in each patient admitting location, including, but not 186
240+limited to, the admissions office, emergency room, social services 187
241+department and patient accounts or billing office, information in 188
242+English and Spanish regarding the availability of its hospital bed 189
243+funds, in plain language in a forty-eight to seventy-two point type size. 190
244+Such information shall include: (A) Notification of the existence of 191
245+hospital bed funds and the hospital's program to administer them, and 192
246+(B) the person to contact for application information. 193
247+(2) Each hospital [which has a hospital bed fund] shall train staff, 194
248+including but not limited to, hospital social workers, discharge 195
249+planners and billing personnel concerning the existence of [such fund] 196
250+any hospital bed fund and hospital financial assistance, the eligibility 197
251+requirements for any such fund and such financial assistance, and the 198
252+procedures for [application] a patient to apply for any such fund or 199
253+financial assistance. 200
254+(c) Each hospital [that holds or administers one or more hospital bed 201
255+funds] shall make available in a place and manner allowing individual 202
256+members of the public to easily obtain it, a one-page summary in 203
257+English and Spanish describing any hospital bed funds and hospital 204
258+financial assistance and how to apply for [them] such funds, if such 205
259+funds exist, and such financial assistance. Upon request, a hospital 206
260+shall make the summary available in each additional language spoken 207
261+by at least five per cent of the population that resides in the geographic 208
262+area served by the hospital. The summary shall also describe any other 209
263+policies regarding the provision of charity care and [reduced cost 210
264+services for the indigent] other financial assistance as reported by the 211
265+hospital to the Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of Health 212
266+Strategy pursuant to section 19a-649, as amended by this act, and shall 213 Substitute Bill No. 6740
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272-from other sources of financial assistance. The summary shall include 213
273-(1) notification that the patient is entitled to reapply upon rejection, and 214
274-that additional funds may become available on an annual basis, and (2) 215
275-a link to the application for hospital financial assistance described in 216
276-section 2 of this act. The summary shall be available in the patient 217
277-admissions office, emergency room, social services department and 218
278-patient accounts or billing office. [, and from any collection agent] Each 219
279-hospital shall include the link to the Internet web site where the 220
280-summary is posted in all billing statements issued by the hospital and 221
281-include a paper copy of the summary in all hospital discharge 222
282-paperwork provided to each patient. If during the admission process or 223
283-during its review of the financial resources of the patient, the hospital 224
284-reasonably believes the patient will have limited funds to pay for any 225
285-portion of the patient's hospitalization not covered by insurance, the 226
286-hospital shall provide the summary to each such patient. The summary 227
287-shall comply with the plain language standards described in section 42-228
288-152 and shall not include any statement that suggests that a patient is 229
289-required to apply for the Connecticut medical assistance program, 230
290-Medicare, other government-funded coverage or insurance through the 231
291-Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange. 232
292-(d) Each hospital [which holds or administers one or more hospital 233
293-bed funds] shall require its collection agents to include a summary as 234
294-provided in subsection (c) of this section in all bills and collection notices 235
295-sent by such collection agents. 236
296-(e) [Applicants] Each hospital shall notify an applicant for assistance 237
297-from hospital bed funds [shall be notified] or for hospital financial 238
298-assistance, in writing, of any award or any rejection and the reason for 239
299-such rejection. Patients who cannot pay any outstanding medical bill at 240
300-the hospital shall be allowed to apply or reapply for hospital bed funds 241
301-and other programs providing financial assistance. Each hospital shall 242
302-offer an applicant, who is deemed ineligible for hospital financial 243
303-assistance, a payment plan amounting to not more than two per cent of 244
304-the applicant's annual household income per year. No hospital nor 245 Substitute Bill No. 6740
273+clearly distinguish hospital bed funds and hospital financial assistance 214
274+from other sources of financial assistance. The summary shall include 215
275+(1) notification that the patient is entitled to reapply upon rejection, 216
276+and that additional funds may become available on an annual basis, 217
277+and (2) a link to the application for hospital financial assistance 218
278+described in section 2 of this act. The summary shall be available in the 219
279+patient admissions office, emergency room, social services department 220
280+and patient accounts or billing office. [, and from any collection agent] 221
281+Each hospital shall include the link to the Internet web site where the 222
282+summary is posted in all billing statements issued by the hospital and 223
283+include a paper copy of the summary in all hospital discharge 224
284+paperwork provided to each patient. If during the admission process 225
285+or during its review of the financial resources of the patient, the 226
286+hospital reasonably believes the patient will have limited funds to pay 227
287+for any portion of the patient's hospitalization not covered by 228
288+insurance, the hospital shall provide the summary to each such patient. 229
289+The summary shall comply with the plain language standards 230
290+described in section 42-152 and shall not include any statement that 231
291+suggests that a patient is required to apply for the Connecticut medical 232
292+assistance program, Medicare, other government-funded coverage or 233
293+insurance through the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange. 234
294+(d) Each hospital [which holds or administers one or more hospital 235
295+bed funds] shall require its collection agents to include a summary as 236
296+provided in subsection (c) of this section in all bills and collection 237
297+notices sent by such collection agents. 238
298+(e) [Applicants] Each hospital shall notify an applicant for assistance 239
299+from hospital bed funds [shall be notified] or for hospital financial 240
300+assistance, in writing, of any award or any rejection and the reason for 241
301+such rejection. Patients who cannot pay any outstanding medical bill at 242
302+the hospital shall be allowed to apply or reapply for hospital bed funds 243
303+and other programs providing financial assistance. Each hospital shall 244
304+offer an applicant, who is deemed ineligible for hospital financial 245
305+assistance, a payment plan amounting to not more than two per cent of 246 Substitute Bill No. 6740
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311-collection agent for a hospital may charge a patient interest on medical 246
312-debt if the patient is eligible for any financial assistance. 247
313-(f) Each hospital which holds or administers one or more hospital bed 248
314-funds shall maintain and annually compile, at the end of the fiscal year 249
315-of the hospital, the following information: (1) The number of 250
316-applications for hospital bed funds; (2) the number of patients receiving 251
317-hospital bed fund grants and the actual dollar amounts provided to each 252
318-patient from such fund; (3) the fair market value of the principal of each 253
319-individual hospital bed fund, or the principal attributable to each bed 254
320-fund if held in a pooled investment; (4) the total earnings for each 255
321-hospital bed fund or the earnings attributable to each hospital bed fund; 256
322-(5) the dollar amount of earnings reinvested as principal if any; and (6) 257
323-the dollar amount of earnings available for patient care. The information 258
324-compiled pursuant to this subsection shall be permanently retained by 259
325-the hospital and made available to the Health Systems Planning Unit 260
326-upon request. 261
312+the applicant's annual household income per year. No hospital nor 247
313+collection agent for a hospital may charge a patient interest on medical 248
314+debt if the patient is eligible for any financial assistance. 249
315+(f) Each hospital which holds or administers one or more hospital 250
316+bed funds shall maintain and annually compile, at the end of the fiscal 251
317+year of the hospital, the following information: (1) The number of 252
318+applications for hospital bed funds; (2) the number of patients 253
319+receiving hospital bed fund grants and the actual dollar amounts 254
320+provided to each patient from such fund; (3) the fair market value of 255
321+the principal of each individual hospital bed fund, or the principal 256
322+attributable to each bed fund if held in a pooled investment; (4) the 257
323+total earnings for each hospital bed fund or the earnings attributable to 258
324+each hospital bed fund; (5) the dollar amount of earnings reinvested as 259
325+principal if any; and (6) the dollar amount of earnings available for 260
326+patient care. The information compiled pursuant to this subsection 261
327+shall be permanently retained by the hospital and made available to 262
328+the Health Systems Planning Unit upon request. 263
327329 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
328330 sections:
329331
330332 Section 1 October 1, 2023 19a-673b
331333 Sec. 2 October 1, 2023 New section
332334 Sec. 3 October 1, 2023 19a-649
333335 Sec. 4 October 1, 2023 19a-509b
334336
335337 PH Joint Favorable Subst.
336-FIN Joint Favorable
337338