HOUSE BILL NO. 384

INTRODUCED BY F. SMITH

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REQUIRING A HEALTH CARE FACILITY TO PROVIDE ITEMIZED BILLING INFORMATION UPON REQUEST TO A PATIENT OR A PATIENT'S REPRESENTATIVE AT NO CHARGE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Itemization of medical treatment charges. (1) At the time of discharge and upon request, a patient or a patient's representative is entitled to receive without charge an itemized billing by date of goods and services, including but not limited to charges for specific treatments, prescription or over-the-counter drugs, x-rays, equipment, or room charges, received in a health care facility, as defined in 50-5-101. If the itemized billing lists charges using a code system, the code must also include the specific name of the coded category and other explanatory language necessary for the patient to understand the purpose for which the charges are billed.

(2) The itemized billing information must be the same as that which the health care facility submits to any third-party payor. Any explanation of benefits from a health care insurer must correspond to the billing information from the health care facility.

(3) The patient or patient's representative may review the charges to verify that the goods and services were in fact received and may bring any discrepancies or errors to the attention of the health care facility or the health care insurer or other third-party payor.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 50, chapter 4, part 5, and the provisions of Title 50, chapter 4, part 5, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1999.

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