RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 306 (HB 435) 2017 Regular Session Talbot
Existing 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. Existing 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. New 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.
New 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.
Existing 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. New law requires the facility
to provide this information to the patient without the patient having to request it.
New law requires that a healthcare facility provide notice when a patient is receiving services
in a hospital-based outpatient facility that the patient may be charged a facility fee billed
separately from the healthcare provider's fee, and that this facility fee may not be covered by
the patient's health insurance.
New law provides that new law will be enforced by the Department of Health and the
commissioner of insurance.
Effective August 1, 2017.
(Amends R.S. 22:1880(C)(1) and (2); Adds R.S. 22:1880(C)(4) and (E))