SB12-134 Summary

• Requires Colorado hospitals to make financial assistance, charity care, and payment plan information available to patients through websites, waiting areas, discharge documents, and billing statements in clear, understandable language appropriate to the communities served.

• Establishes eligibility for financial assistance for uninsured patients with annual family income not exceeding 250 percent of federal poverty guidelines who received services when the Colorado Indigent Care Program was unavailable.

• Limits charges for emergency and medically necessary care for eligible patients to no more than the lowest negotiated rate from a private health plan.

• Requires hospitals to offer qualified patients reasonable payment plans and allow at least 30 days past the due date for the first late payment before initiating collection proceedings.

• Preserves hospital rights to pursue collection of insurance claims including personal injury, liability, uninsured, underinsured, workers' compensation, and other fault-based insurance policies.