BILL NUMBER:  S6347

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to hospital
statements of the rights and responsibilities of patients

 PURPOSE :

To update the Patients' Bill of Rights to reflect recent changes to
the law regarding surprise bills and the CARE Act.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one adds a two new paragraphs to Public Health Law § 2803(1)
to require the statement of rights and responsibilities of patients
that every general hospital must adopt and make public to include: 1)
provisions informing the patient of his or her right to be held
harmless from surprise bills; and 2) provisions informing the patient
of his or her right to designate a caregiver under the CARE Act.

Section two provides that this act shall take effect 180 days after it
becomes law, but effective immediately the Commissioner may amend
regulations as necessary for implementation by the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :
              

This legislation updates the Patients' Bill of Rights to reflect two
monumental consumer protections recently enacted. The first change,
included in the SFY 2014-15 budget, enacted significant consumer
protections to end surprise medical bills. These provisions took
effect on April 1, 2015. More specifically, the law protects consumers
by requiring certain disclosures from insurers, hospitals, health care
professionals and physicians, ensuring network adequacy and holding
insured consumers harmless with regard to bills for emergency
services, surprise bills and services rendered out-of-network when
there is no in-network provider. An independent dispute resolution
process is established to resolve billing disputes for emergency care
and surprise bills.

The second law referenced is the CARE Act which was signed into law in
2015. The CARE Act, which takes effect April 23, 2016, requires
identification of caregivers while the patient is still in the
hospital, includes caregivers in the discharge plan and provides for
the instruction of caregivers for post-discharge care. Once
implemented, this law will significantly improve patient care and
health outcomes.

With these updates the Patients' Bill of Rights will be accurate and
reflective of the current rights of patients and also ensure patient's
are aware of such rights. This legislation is effective in 180 days,
after both provisions referenced have taken effect.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
180 days after enactment.

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6347B

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to hospital
statements of the rights and responsibilities of patients

 PURPOSE :

To update the Patients' Bill of Rights to reflect recent changes to
the law regarding surprise bills and the CARE Act.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one adds a two new paragraphs to Public Health Law § 2803(1)
to require the statement of rights and responsibilities of patients
that every general hospital must adopt and make public to include: 1)
provisions informing the patient of his or her right to submit
surprise or emergency bills to the independent resolution entity; and
2) provisions informing the patient of his or her right to identify a
caregiver under the CARE Act.

Section two provides that this act shall take effect 180 days after it
becomes law, but effective immediately the Commissioner may amend
regulations as necessary for implementation by the effective date.

              

 JUSTIFICATION :

This legislation updates the Patients' Bill of Rights to reflect two
monumental consumer protections recently enacted. The first change,
included in the SFY 2014-15 budget, enacted significant consumer
protections to end surprise medical bills. These provisions took
effect on April 1, 2015. More specifically, the law protects consumers
by requiring certain disclosures from insurers, hospitals, health care
professionals and physicians, ensuring network adequacy and holding
insured consumers harmless with regard to bills for emergency services
and services rendered out-of-network when there is no in-network
provider. An independent dispute resolution process is established to
resolve billing disputes for emergency care and surprise bills.

The second law referenced is the CARE Act which was signed into law in
2015. The CARE Act, which takes effect April 23, 2016, requires
identification of caregivers while the patient is still in the
hospital, includes caregivers in the discharge plan and provides for
the instruction of caregivers for post-discharge care. Once
implemented, this law will significantly improve patient care and
health outcomes.

With these updates the Patients' Bill of Rights will be accurate and
reflective of the current rights of patients and also ensure patient's
are aware of such rights. This legislation is effective in 180 days,
after both provisions referenced have taken effect.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
180 days after enactment.