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A06576 Summary:

BILL NOA06576
 
SAME ASSAME AS S01476
 
SPONSORSolages
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §2803-bb, Pub Health L
 
Requires not-for-profit hospitals inform patients that low to moderate-income persons may qualify for help with medical bills through such hospitals' charitable programs by disclosing such information to patients, posting such information conspicuously, and through social workers.
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A06576 Actions:

BILL NOA06576
 
04/19/2023referred to health
01/03/2024referred to health
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A06576 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A6576
 
SPONSOR: Solages
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring not-for- profit hospitals inform patients that low to moderate-income persons may qualify for help with medical bills through such hospitals charitable programs   PURPOSE: To minimize the costs of medical care for people with low to moderate incomes.   SUMMARY: Section 1. Amends the public health law by adding a new section 2803-bb. Section 2. Sets the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: Informing low to moderate-income persons that they may qualify for help with medical bills through charitable programs is crucial to improving their access to healthcare and addressing current issues in the health- care system: When low-income patients are aware of financial assistance programs, they are more likely to seek healthcare services and receive necessary medical care. Furthermore, informing low-income patients about financial assistance programs can help to address healthcare disparities. Low-income individ- uals, particularly those from marginalized communities, are more likely to experience unequal healthcare access and outcomes. By ensuring that low-income patients are aware of financial assistance programs, health- care providers can help to bridge this gap and promote more equitable healthcare access and outcomes. This legislation will improve access to care, reduce the cost burden on the healthcare system, and promote more equitable healthcare outcomes for all individuals, regardless of income level.   RACIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: People of color face significant barriers to accessing healthcare due to systemic racism and socioeconomic inequalities. They are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, have limited access to quality healthcare, and experience worse health outcomes as a result. By informing patients about their charitable programs, not-for-profit hospitals can help address some of these disparities by providing finan- cial assistance to those who struggle to afford medical care. This assistance can make a significant difference in the health outcomes of low to moderate-income people. In addition, not-for-profit hospitals have a responsibility to address healthcare disparities, promote equity in access to care, and serve their community. Informing patients about their charitable programs is a step toward fulfilling this responsibility and promoting equity in healthcare. Requiring not-for-profit hospitals to inform patients about their chari- table programs can help address healthcare disparities and promote racial justice by providing financial assistance to those who need it most.   GENDER JUSTICE IMPACT: TBD.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2022: A10639; referred to health. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: TBD.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or .regulation necessary for the implementa- tion of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
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A06576 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          6576
 
                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                     April 19, 2023
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Health
 
        AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring not-for-
          profit hospitals inform patients that low to  moderate-income  persons
          may  qualify for help with medical bills through such hospitals chari-
          table programs

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  The  public health law is amended by adding a new section
     2  2803-bb to read as follows:
     3    § 2803-bb. Disclosure of charitable programs.  All hospitals organized
     4  pursuant to the not-for-profit corporation law or which meets the quali-
     5  fications of section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code shall:
     6    (a) disclose to all patients and any  patient's  authorized  represen-
     7  tative  that such hospital has charitable programs for low and moderate-
     8  income persons to help with medical bills including, but not limited to,
     9  the charitable programs information and  contact  information  regarding
    10  such programs.
    11    (b)  post  conspicuously  on such hospital's website, lobby areas, and
    12  other areas where patients could view the post that  such  hospital  has
    13  charitable  programs  for  low  and moderate-income persons to help with
    14  medical bills including, but not limited  to,  the  charitable  programs
    15  information and contact information regarding such programs.
    16    (c) post conspicuously on the first page of any medical bill issued by
    17  such  hospital and on any intake document, including electronic, digital
    18  or any other method used by such hospital for  such  documents,  in  the
    19  same  font  size and format as such bill or intake document, as applica-
    20  ble, a notice  that such hospital has charitable programs  for  low  and
    21  moderate-income  persons  to  help with medical bills including, but not
    22  limited to, the charitable programs information and contact  information
    23  regarding such programs.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD01742-01-3

        A. 6576                             2
 
     1    (d)  inform all social workers in such hospital that such hospital has
     2  charitable programs for low and moderate-income  persons  to  help  with
     3  medical  bills  including,  but  not limited to, the charitable programs
     4  information and contact information regarding  such  programs  and  such
     5  social workers shall disclose such information.
     6    § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
     7  it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
     8  ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
     9  tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
    10  completed on or before such effective date.
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