The bill amends Chapter 23-17 of the General Laws to require hospitals to screen uninsured patients for eligibility for public health insurance programs and hospital financial assistance, contingent upon patient consent. This screening must occur as soon as reasonably possible and adhere to the stipulations of § 23-17-54. Hospitals must document if a patient declines or does not respond to the screening. Furthermore, hospitals are obligated to assist potentially eligible patients by providing information and directing them to healthcare navigators or similar resources. Billing practices for uninsured patients are also addressed: hospitals can only bill for copayments or coinsurance if the patient is approved for public health insurance, and if denied, the hospital must offer another financial assistance screening.

Additionally, the bill mandates hospitals to inform patients about financial assistance options through visible signage and online notices. The executive office of health and human services is responsible for enforcing compliance, with the attorney general authorized to investigate and act against non-compliant hospitals. The bill also introduces a joint resolution for the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to create a pilot Acute Hospital Care at Home Program, which would allow hospitals to provide in-home acute care services to eligible individuals. This program is designed to be budget-neutral for Medicaid and is limited to a 90-day period post-expiration for Medicaid-eligible individuals. The Secretary is instructed to seek necessary amendments or waivers for federal participation and may waive state regulations to facilitate the program, which will end when the federal program expires. A report on the pilot program's costs will be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly. The bill's provisions are set to take effect on January 1, 2025, for Section 1, and July 1, 2024, for Section 2. There are no specific insertions or deletions from current law indicated in the provided text.