Existing law provides every patient of a medical facility with the right to examine the bill for his or her care and receive an explanation of the bill. (NRS 449A.106) Existing law also requires each provider of health care to timely provide a patient with an itemized bill at no additional cost to the patient. (NRS 629.071) Sections 2 and 3 of this bill, respectively, require a medical facility or an entity that bills for care provided by a provider of health care that receives notice from a patient that a medical bill contains one or more overcharges to: (1) respond to the patient concerning the overcharges, including by providing the contact information for the Office for Consumer Health Assistance in the Department of Health and Human Services if the facility or provider does not intend to refund the disputed charge; or (2) notify the patient that more time is needed to investigate the disputed charge. Sections 2 and 3 require the medical facility or billing entity to refund any overpayment by the patient. Sections 2 and 3 provide for the imposition of administrative fines against a medical facility or billing entity that fails to issue such a refund. Section 2.5 of this bill requires the Governor's Consumer Health Advocate, who serves as the head of the Office, to review medical bills that consumers believe to be erroneous and assist consumers in addressing overcharges and overpayments for health care.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 449.160, 654.190
Reprint 1: 232.459
Reprint 2: 232.459, 630.110, 630A.160, 633.261, 634.050, 634A.080, 635.040, 636.110, 639.081, 640.070, 640B.220, 641.111, 641A.205, 641B.150, 641C.190
Reprint 3: 232.459
As Enrolled: 232.459
BDR: 449.160, 654.190