Correct Error in Self-Pay Estimate Statute

Statutory Revision Committee. Under current law, an individual may request a self-pay estimate of the total cost of an anticipated health-care service (self-pay estimate) from the designated billing or patient services personnel representing the health-care provider or health-care facility providing the service. Unless the patient suffers a medical emergency or other unforeseen circumstance that affects the services provided, the statute states that the final cost of the health-care service must be no more than 15% higher than the self-pay estimate or $400, whichever is less.

The bill corrects a mistake in the statutory language by clarifying that the $400 qualifier relates to the permissible dollar amount above the cost estimated in the self-pay estimate rather than the maximum allowable cost of the health-care service, regardless of the service provided.

Further, when referencing the exception in statute that, due to an emergency or unforeseen circumstance, the total cost of services may exceed the self-pay estimate by more than 15% or $400, the bill removes the language "whichever is less", as that language is inapplicable when the exception applies.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)