DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 435 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session Talbot
Abstract: Requires that a healthcare facility advise a patient at initial registration of the possible
use of out-of-network medical providers and that the patient may be responsible for payment
to the out-of-network providers.
Present law requires that a healthcare facility provide a written notice to a patient regarding the
possible provision of services to a patient by facility-based providers who are out-of-network
providers. Present law further requires that the patient be informed in the written notice that the
patient may be responsible for all or part of the fees for out-of-network services. Proposed law
rewrites the notice to clarify what balance billing is and that the patient will be responsible for
charges by those out-of-network providers.
Proposed law requires that the patient sign a copy of the balance billing notice provided to him
which the facility is responsible for maintaining in the patient's records on-site.
Present law requires that a healthcare facility provide a patient upon request with the name and
contact information for providers who are contracted to provide services at the facility, and inform
the patient that he may request information from his insurer as to whether those providers are in-
network or out-of-network, and under what circumstances the patient may be responsible for
payment of amounts not paid by the insurer. Proposed law requires the facility to provide this
information to the patient.
Proposed law provides that proposed law will be enforced by the Department of Health and the
commissioner of insurance.
(Amends R.S. 22:1880(C)(1) and (2); Adds R.S. 22:1880(E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Insurance to the original bill:
1. Rewrite the balance billing notice to be given by a healthcare facility to an insured or
enrollee at first registration of the insured or enrollee to clarify the likelihood of balance
billing and encourage the insured or enrollee to contact his health plan provider for
further information regarding which providers are in-network and which are out-of-
network. 2. Require the insured or enrollee to sign a copy of the balance billing notice, which the
healthcare facility is required to maintain.
3. Require the healthcare facility to provide the insured or enrollee with a list of names and
contact information for each individual or group of hospital-contracted anesthesiologists,
pathologists, radiologists, hospitalists, intensivists, and neonatologists who provide
services at the facility and inform the insured or enrollee that he may request information
from his insurer as to whether those providers are in-network or out-of-network and
under what circumstances the insurer or enrollee may be responsible for payment of
amounts not paid by the insurer.
4. Provide for enforcement by the Department of Health and commissioner of insurance.
5. Make technical changes.