A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-327 SO AS TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO ITEMIZED PATIENT BILLING FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND SUPPLIES.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  Article 3, Chapter 7, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 44-7-327.  (A) For purposes of this section:

       (1) "Debt collection" means an action, conduct, or practice in collecting, or in soliciting for collection, consumer debts that are due or alleged to be due a creditor.

       (2) "Health care provider" means a facility licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide health care services or supplies in this State in the ordinary course of business, including a hospital, except the term does not include a federally qualified health center, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(I)(2)(B).

       (3) "Health care service" means a service a health care provider provides to an individual to diagnose, prevent, treat, alleviate, cure, or heal a human health condition, illness, injury, or disease.

    (B)(1) A health care provider that requests payment from a patient after providing a health care service or related supply to the patient shall submit with the request a written, itemized bill of the alleged cost of each service and supply provided to the patient during the patient's visit to the provider.  The provider must submit the itemized bill no later than the thirtieth day after the provider receives a final payment on the provided service or supply from a third party.

       (2) The itemized bill must include:

           (a) a plain language description of each distinct health care service or supply the health care provider provided to the patient;

           (b) if the provider sought or is seeking reimbursement from a third party, any billing code submitted to the third party and the amounts billed to and paid by that third party; and

           (c) the amount the provider alleges is due from the patient for each service and supply provided to the patient.

       (3) A health care provider may issue the itemized bill electronically, including through a patient portal on the provider's Internet website.

       (4) A patient is entitled to obtain from the health care provider an itemized bill on request at any time after the itemized bill is initially issued under item (1).

       (5) A health care provider may not pursue debt collection against a patient for a provided health care service or supply unless the provider has complied with this section.

    (C) The appropriate licensing authority shall take disciplinary action against the provider for the violation as if the provider violated an applicable licensing law.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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