HB1720 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 13475 CPF 18822 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB1720

Introduced 2/17/2021, by Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

210 ILCS 88/20
210 ILCS 88/25

Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Provides that if a hospital bills a patient $50,000 or more for health care services in a period of 72 hours, the hospital shall provide with its bill copies of the electronic records used to generate all charges and shall further itemize any item and make electronic copies of the patient's charts available at the patient's request within 5 days of billing or the date of request, whichever is later. Provides that hospitals must return calls made by patients within 5 calendar days of receipt of the patient request for amounts billed in excess of $50,000.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Fair Patient Billing Act is amended by changing Sections 20 and 25 as follows:

(210 ILCS 88/20)

Sec. 20. Bill information. If a hospital bills a patient for health care services, the hospital shall provide with its bill the following information:

(1) the date or dates that health care services were provided to the patient;

(2) a brief description of the hospital services;

(3) the amount owed for hospital services;

(4) hospital contact information for addressing billing inquiries;

(5) a statement regarding how an uninsured patient may apply for consideration under the hospital's financial assistance policy on or with each hospital bill sent to an uninsured patient; and

(6) notice that the patient may obtain an itemized bill upon request.

(7) If the aggregate amount billed to a patient in connection with medical care exceeds $50,000 over a period of 72 hours, each provider associated with such care must also provide within 5 days of billing access to the patient, and, if different, the family member who is the primary insurance policy holder for the patient, copies of the electronic records used to generate all such charges, including as an itemized statement; and shall further itemize any item and make electronic copies of the patient's charts available at the patient's request within 5 days of billing or the date of request, whichever is later.

If a hospital bills a patient, then the hospital must provide an itemized statement of charges for the inpatient and outpatient services rendered by the hospital upon receiving a request from the patient.

(Source: P.A. 94-885, eff. 1-1-07.)

(210 ILCS 88/25)

Sec. 25. Bill inquiries.

(a) A hospital must implement a process for patients to inquire about or dispute a bill. Such process must include a telephone number for billing inquiries and disputes and may include any of the following options:

(1) a toll-free telephone number that the patient may call;

(2) an address to which he or she may write;

(3) a department or identified individual within the hospital he or she may call or write, with appropriate contact information; or

(4) a website or e-mail address.

(b) All hospital bills and collection notices must provide a telephone number allowing the patient to inquire about or dispute a bill.

(c) The hospital must return calls made by patients as promptly as possible, but no later than 2 business days after the call is made. If the hospital's billing inquiry process involves correspondence from the patient, the hospital must respond within 10 business days of receipt of the patient correspondence, or within 5 calendar days of receipt of the patient request for amounts billed in excess of $50,000 as set forth under paragraph (7) of Section 20. For purposes of this Section, "business day" means a day on which the hospital's billing office is open for regular business.

(Source: P.A. 94-885, eff. 1-1-07.)