HB1195: relative to health care provider reimbursement for services to patients without health insurance.

HB 1195 – AS INTRODUCED

2008 SESSION

08-2212

01/10

HOUSE BILL 1195

AN ACT relative to health care provider reimbursement for services to patients without health insurance.

SPONSORS: Rep. Nord, Rock 1; Rep. Tupper, Merr 6; Rep. Wall, Straf 7; Rep. Butler, Carr 1; Rep. J. Hammond, Hills 3; Sen. Hassan, Dist 23; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24

COMMITTEE: Commerce

ANALYSIS

This bill requires health care providers to accept from uninsured patients as payment in full, an amount equivalent to, or less than, the amount received on average from patients covered by health maintenance organizations.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08-2212

01/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

AN ACT relative to health care provider reimbursement for services to patients without health insurance.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Chapter; Health Care Provider Rates. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 332-J the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 332-K

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER RATES

332-K:1 Definitions. In this chapter:

I. “Department” means the insurance department.

II. “Health care provider” means any person, corporation, facility, or institution either licensed by this state or otherwise lawfully providing health care services, including, but not limited to, a physician, hospital, or other health care facility, dentist, nurse, optometrist, podiatrist, physical therapist, or psychologist, and any officer, employee, or agent of such provider acting in the course and scope of employment or agency related to or supportive of health care services.

III. “Uninsured” means a patient without any form of health insurance, or other coverage that would provide payment to a health care provider or patient for services rendered by the health care provider. The health care provider does not need to have a contract with the entity providing insurance coverage to the patient in order for the patient to be considered insured. The term “uninsured” shall include patients covered by discount medical plans.

332-K:2 Health Care Provider Rates. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, health care providers shall accept from uninsured patients as payment in full an amount equivalent to, or less than, the amount received on average from patients covered by health maintenance organizations. This amount shall be determined by the department utilizing the New Hampshire comprehensive health care information system (CHIS) established pursuant to RSA 420-G:11-a.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 180 days after its passage.