OH HB160

Requires health care providers and health plan issuers to provide patients with reasonable, good faith cost estimates before delivering health care products, services, or procedures, with phased implementation beginning immediately for multi-hospital networks and expanding to all providers by July 1, 2023.

Establishes specific requirements for cost estimate content, format, and delivery timeframes (24-48 hours depending on circumstances), including total charges, facility fees, in-network/out-of-network status, and patient out-of-pocket responsibility.

Permits health care providers to elect either to provide estimates directly to patients or to have health plan issuers provide them after receiving necessary information through secure electronic portals.

Exempts emergency services, certain urgent care situations, office visit-only appointments, and walk-in care from cost estimate requirements.

Authorizes regulatory agencies to impose fines up to $100,000-$300,000 and cease-and-desist orders for consistent patterns of violations, and requires the Medicaid program to comply with these requirements beginning April 1, 2024.