| Passed by the House April 24, 2009 Yeas 94 FRANK CHOPP ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate April 22, 2009 Yeas 49 BRAD OWEN ________________________________________ President of the Senate | I, Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1869 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. BARBARA BAKER ________________________________________ Chief Clerk | |
| Approved May 18, 2009, 3:28 p.m. CHRISTINE GREGOIRE ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | May 20, 2009 Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 61st Legislature | 2009 Regular Session |
READ FIRST TIME 02/23/09.
AN ACT Relating to transparency of health care cost information; adding a new section to chapter 70.01 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 70.01 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) Health care providers licensed under Title 18 RCW and health
care facilities licensed under Title 70 RCW shall provide the following
to a patient upon request:
(a) An estimate of fees and charges related to a specific service,
visit, or stay; and
(b) Information regarding other types of fees or charges a patient
may receive in conjunction with their visit to the provider or
facility. Hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW may fulfill this
requirement by providing a statement and contact information as
described in RCW 70.41.400.
(2) Providers and facilities listed in subsection (1) of this
section may, after disclosing estimated charges and fees to a patient,
refer the patient to the patient's insurer, if applicable, for specific
information on the insurer's charges and fees, any cost-sharing
responsibilities required of the patient, and the network status of
ancillary providers who may or may not share the same network status as
the provider or facility.
(3) Except for hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW,
providers and facilities listed in subsection (1) of this section shall
post a sign in patient registration areas containing at least the
following language: "Information about the estimated charges of your
health services is available upon request. Please do not hesitate to
ask for information."
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW
to read as follows:
Hospitals licensed under this chapter shall post a sign in patient
registration areas containing at least the following language:
"Information about the estimated charges of your hospital services is
available upon request. Please do not hesitate to ask for
information."