This bill establishes new medical billing requirements aimed at enhancing transparency regarding the charges or expenses associated with health care services. It mandates that health care providers deliver a consolidated, itemized statement or bill to patients, their survivors, or legal guardians within 30 days of discharge or within seven days of a written request. The bill specifies that the statement must be written in plain language, detailing the specific nature of charges, including the services received, expenses incurred, and payment obligations. It prohibits vague descriptions such as "miscellaneous charges" and requires clear identification of each item as paid, assigned to a third-party payer, or chargeable directly to the patient.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of health care facilities in responding to patient inquiries about billing statements and mandates the establishment of policies for such responses. It also directs the Board of Medical Examiners and the Department of Health to adopt rules ensuring that billing statements are consistent with existing consumer protection laws. The rules will cover the contents of the statements, patient rights, and disclosure requirements for in-network and out-of-network services. The act is set to take effect immediately, applying to health care services performed 24 months after enactment.