New Jersey Senate Bill S2795

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/22/24
• Refer: 2/22/24

Caption

Establishes certain medical billing requirements concerning specific nature of charges or expenses for health care services.

Impact

This legislation seeks to amend existing state laws on medical billing to ensure that patients can easily comprehend their financial obligations regarding health care services. By requiring detailed billing statements that spell out every charge and service received, S2795 aims to reduce confusion and disputes about billing processes. The bill also stipulates that subsequent statements must transparently reflect any changes or updates regarding the patient's charges, thus promoting accountability among health care providers.

Summary

Senate Bill S2795 focuses on establishing specific medical billing requirements for health care services in New Jersey. The bill mandates that health care providers must furnish patients with a clear, consolidated, and itemized statement detailing the nature of charges incurred for services rendered within a stipulated timeframe. Specifically, a provider must deliver this statement within 30 days after a patient's discharge or within 7 days upon receiving a written request. The goal of these provisions is to enhance transparency and understanding of medical billing for patients, with an emphasis on using plain language accessible to laypersons.

Contention

While the bill is generally aimed at supporting patient rights and improving transparency in medical billing, it could face opposition from health care providers concerned about the administrative burden and the potential complexities involved in complying with the detailed billing requirements. There may be apprehension about how such regulations could affect operational efficiencies within health care facilities. Opponents might argue that while transparency is essential, the intricacies involved in new billing procedures could lead to increased costs that are ultimately passed on to consumers.