Senate Bill 383 aims to enhance price transparency in hospitals and restrict certain debt collection actions against patients. The bill mandates that hospitals provide publicly accessible cost information for specific items and services, including a digital file of standard charges in a machine-readable format. This file must include details such as gross charges, payer-specific negotiated charges, and discounted cash prices. Additionally, hospitals are required to maintain a consumer-friendly list of at least 300 shoppable services, which must be updated annually and made available without requiring user accounts or personal information. The Department of Health Services (DHS) is tasked with enforcing these requirements and monitoring hospital compliance.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a certification requirement for parties seeking judgment against patients for debts related to hospital services. They must file an oath certifying that the hospital is compliant with the price transparency requirements as maintained by DHS. The bill also includes provisions for penalties against hospitals that fail to comply with the established transparency standards. Notably, the bill amends existing statutes by replacing references to sections 50.39 with 50.42, thereby updating the framework governing hospital regulations and approvals.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 50.32, 50.33(intro.), 50.33, 50.33(3), 50.34, 50.36(1), 50.36, 50.39(1), 50.39, 50.39(2), 50.39(3), 50.39(4)