Requires hospital employees assist uninsured patients with creating account to apply for insurance coverage through Federally-Facilitated Marketplace.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would significantly alter how hospitals interact with uninsured patients and assist them in obtaining health care coverage. Hospital employees will be responsible not only for discerning a patient's health insurance status but also ensuring that patients are supported in creating accounts on the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace website, potentially increasing health insurance enrollment rates among uninsured populations. This could lead to better health outcomes, as more individuals gain access to necessary medical services that were previously affordable only out of pocket.
Summary
Senate Bill 449, proposed in New Jersey, mandates that designated hospital employees assist uninsured patients in accessing the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace to obtain health insurance coverage. This initiative aims to ensure that all patients, especially those without insurance, receive guidance and support when seeking medical care. Under the bill, hospital employees trained in financial data collection and insurance coverage identification will interview patients before discharge to determine their insurance status, enabling the provision of necessary assistance if no coverage is found.
Contention
While supporters of S449 emphasize its potential to reduce the number of uninsured patients and streamline access to health insurance, critics may raise concerns about the burden it places on hospital staff, particularly regarding training requirements and additional workload. The requirement for designated employees to assist patients could strain hospital resources, especially in busy settings. Additionally, there might be skepticism about the effectiveness of the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace and whether this approach would truly meet the diverse needs of uninsured residents.
Same As
Requires hospital employees assist uninsured patients with creating account to apply for insurance coverage through Federally-Facilitated Marketplace.
Requirements for hospitals to screen patients for eligibility for health coverage or assistance established, affidavit of expert review required before debt collection activities, and hospital charges limited for uninsured treatments and services for patients.
Requires hospitals to screen uninsured patients for public assistance and creates a pilot program for out of hospital service upon expiration of similar federal program.
Requires hospitals to perform psychological and psychiatric evaluations on certain patients and requires health insurance coverage for such evaluations.
Requires hospitals to perform psychological and psychiatric evaluations on certain patients and requires health insurance coverage for such evaluations.
Authorizes health care professionals to engage in the use of remote patient monitoring devices; requires health care insurance coverage by certain insurers for remote patient monitoring devices.