CO SB188

Health care facilities must provide itemized bills to patients within 30 days of discharge or within 7 days of written request, written in plain language understandable to ordinary laypersons.

Bills cannot use only medical billing codes or drug codes; must include brand names or generic drug names and describe specific services by date, provider, and component details with unit pricing.

Bills must identify each charge as paid, assigned to insurance, or due from the patient; include hospital-based physician services; and specify therapy treatments by type and duration.

Facilities must establish procedures to respond to patient billing questions within 7 business days and display a patient liaison contact number for dispute resolution.

The State Board of Health must adopt rules in consultation with insurance and professional licensing authorities to specify billing statement requirements; law does not apply to Medicare or Colorado Medicaid patients and takes effect January 1, 2021.