H-3399.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2341
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1992 Regular Session
By Representatives Moyer, Braddock, Paris, Franklin, Hochstatter, Morris, Forner, Cantwell, Rasmussen, Hargrove, Padden, Wang, Winsley, Brough, Van Luven, Nealey, Chandler, Roland, D. Sommers, Mitchell, Bowman, Wynne, Spanel, May, Carlson, P. Johnson and Sprenkle
Read first time 01/15/92. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
AN ACT Relating to hospital charges to health care providers who order them; adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 71.12 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The legislature finds that the spiraling costs of health care continue to surmount efforts to contain them, increasing at approximately twice the inflationary rate. The causes of this phenomenon are complex. By making physicians and other health care providers with hospital admitting privileges more aware of the cost consequences of health care services for consumers, these providers may be inclined to exercise more restraint in providing only the most relevant and cost-beneficial hospital services, with a potential for reducing the utilization of those services. The requirement of the hospital to inform physicians and other health care providers of the charges of the health care services that they order may have a positive effect on containing health costs. Further, the option of the physician or other health care provider to inform the patient of these charges may strengthen the necessary dialogue in the provider-patient relationship that tends to be diminished by intervening third-party payors.
(2) The chief executive officer of a hospital licensed under this chapter and the superintendent of a state hospital shall establish and maintain a procedure for disclosing to physicians and other health care providers with admitting privileges the charges of all in-house health care services to be ordered for their patients. These charges shall be posted on the patient's chart and shall include total charges to date and an itemization of charges for the previous day. The physician or other health care provider may inform the patient of these charges.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 71.12 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The legislature finds that the spiraling costs of health care continue to surmount efforts to contain them, increasing at approximately twice the inflationary rate. The causes of this phenomenon are complex. By making physicians and other health care providers with hospital admitting privileges more aware of the cost consequences of health care services for consumers, these providers may be inclined to exercise more restraint in providing only the most relevant and cost-beneficial hospital services, with a potential for reducing the utilization of those services. The requirement of the hospital to inform physicians and other health care providers of the charges of the health care services that they order may have a positive effect on containing health costs. Further, the option of the physician or other health care provider to inform the patient of these charges may strengthen the necessary dialogue in the provider-patient relationship that tends to be diminished by intervening third-party payors.
(2) The chief executive officer of a hospital licensed under this chapter and the superintendent of a state hospital shall establish and maintain a procedure for disclosing to physicians and other health care providers with admitting privileges the charges of all in-house health care services to be ordered for their patients. These charges shall be posted on the patient's chart and shall include total charges to date and an itemization of charges for the previous day. The physician or other health care provider may inform the patient of these charges.