Lawmakers OK Bill To Limit Hospitals' Out-of-Network ED Charges

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Monday, September 10, 2012

Lawmakers OK Bill To Limit Hospitals' Out-of-Network ED Charges

The California Assembly and Senate have passed a bill (SB 359) that would limit hospital charges for out-of-network emergency department patients, Becker's Hospital Review reports.

The bill has been sent to Gov. Jerry Brown (D) for consideration.

Bill Details

SB 359 seeks to prevent hospitals from profiting by treating patients with out-of-network health insurance.

The bill would affect hospitals with an out-of-network ED utilization rate of 50% or more.

It would limit payments to hospitals for out-of-network patients to 60% of average in-network payments but no less than 150% of Medicare payments.

Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West has urged Brown to sign the bill (Herman, Becker's Hospital Review, 9/6).