Legislation Would Require
Fair Billing of Uninsured As Condition of Hospitals Receiving
Medicaid Payments
April 16, 2004 - Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) March
31 introduced legislation requiring fair billing and collections
practices for uninsured patients as a condition for hospitals
to receive Medicaid payments.
Specifically, the "Hospital Billing Fairness Act of
2004" (H.R.
4092) would require hospitals not to bill or collect in
excess of 125 percent of Medicare's full or permitted payment
amount for a service provided to an uninsured individual.
The legislation would give the Department of Health and Human
Services Secretary the authority to define how a hospital
would certify its fair billing practices. If a hospital has
certified that it has such fair billing practices, yet collects
an amount in excess of what is allowed, the hospital would
be required to refund the excess or face civil money penalties.
Information:
Lynne Davis Boyle, Assistant Vice President
AAMC Government Relations
ldavisboyle@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
Get Washington Highlights
in your Inbox!
| 
