HB 557 Summary

• Designates each county as the responsible agency for health care transportation, hospital care, and primary health care services to indigent patients domiciled in that county for at least three months.

• Creates a County Hospital and County Health Care Board in each county composed of representatives from government, healthcare, education, and community organizations to administer indigent health care programs.

• Establishes a County Indigent Hospital Claims Fund and a statewide Working Poor and Indigent Fund, funded by county levies approved through public hearing, to pay approved claims for indigent and uninsured patient care.

• Prohibits collection actions against indigent patients who are Medicaid-eligible and restricts payments from indigent care funds for services covered by Medicaid reimbursement.

• Creates liens against estates and property of deceased indigent patients to recover amounts paid from the fund, with liens expiring after 14 years; establishes criminal penalties (Class C felony) for false statements on indigent eligibility forms.