Section 127420 Of Article 1. Hospital Fair Pricing Policies From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 107. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 2.5. >> Article 1.
127420
. (a) Each hospital shall make all reasonable efforts to
obtain from the patient or his or her representative information
about whether private or public health insurance or sponsorship may
fully or partially cover the charges for care rendered by the
hospital to a patient, including, but not limited to, any of the
following:
(1) Private health insurance, including coverage offered through
the California Health Benefit Exchange.
(2) Medicare.
(3) The Medi-Cal program, the Healthy Families Program, the
California Children's Services program, or other state-funded
programs designed to provide health coverage.
(b) If a hospital bills a patient who has not provided proof of
coverage by a third party at the time the care is provided or upon
discharge, as a part of that billing, the hospital shall provide the
patient with a clear and conspicuous notice that includes all of the
following:
(1) A statement of charges for services rendered by the hospital.
(2) A request that the patient inform the hospital if the patient
has health insurance coverage, Medicare, Healthy Families Program,
Medi-Cal, or other coverage.
(3) A statement that, if the consumer does not have health
insurance coverage, the consumer may be eligible for Medicare,
Healthy Families Program, Medi-Cal, coverage offered through the
California Health Benefit Exchange, California Children's Services
program, other state- or county-funded health coverage, or charity
care.
(4) A statement indicating how patients may obtain applications
for the Medi-Cal program and the Healthy Families Program, coverage
offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange, or other
state- or county-funded health coverage programs and that the
hospital will provide these applications. The hospital shall also
provide patients with a referral to a local consumer assistance
center housed at legal services offices. If the patient does not
indicate coverage by a third-party payer specified in subdivision (a)
or requests a discounted price or charity care, then the hospital
shall provide an application for the Medi-Cal program, the Healthy
Families Program, or other state- or county-funded health coverage
programs. This application shall be provided prior to discharge if
the patient has been admitted or to patients receiving emergency or
outpatient care.
(5) Information regarding the financially qualified patient and
charity care application, including the following:
(A) A statement that indicates that if the patient lacks, or has
inadequate, insurance, and meets certain low- and moderate-income
requirements, the patient may qualify for discounted payment or
charity care.
(B) The name and telephone number of a hospital employee or office
from whom or which the patient may obtain information about the
hospital's discount payment and charity care policies, and how to
apply for that assistance.
(C) If a patient applies, or has a pending application, for
another health coverage program at the same time that he or she
applies for a hospital charity care or discount payment program,
neither application shall preclude eligibility for the other program.