CS/HB 1329 Summary

• Requires primary care providers, urgent care centers, ambulatory surgical centers, and diagnostic-imaging centers to publish and post schedules of charges for services in layperson's language, with postings at least 15 square feet in size listing the 50 most frequently provided services.

• Provides that primary care providers who voluntarily published charge schedules from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 are exempt from license renewal fees and continuing education requirements for one renewal period.

• Requires insurers to disclose whether hospitals contract with out-of-network providers and mandates hospitals disclose which providers will treat patients and may bill them directly, with providers prohibited from billing patients if actual charges exceed the estimate by 200 percent or more.

• Makes insurers solely liable for emergency medical services and certain nonemergency services provided by non-contracted providers when patients have no ability to choose alternative providers.

• Establishes fines up to $1,000 per day for failure to comply with charge posting requirements and adds non-compliance with patient bill of rights provisions as grounds for healthcare practitioner discipline.