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2022 SESSION

22107208D
HOUSE BILL NO. 481
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health
on March 3, 2022)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Helmer)
A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-137.05 of the Code of Virginia, relating to hospitals; price transparency.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 32.1-137.05 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 32.1-137.05. Information regarding standard charges; advance estimate of patient payment amount for elective procedure, test, or service.

A. Every hospital shall make available to the public on its website a machine-readable file containing a list of all standard charges for all items and services provided by the hospital in accordance with 45 C.F.R. § 180.50, as amended. As used in this subsection, "hospital," "items and services," "machine-readable," and "standard charge" have the same meaning as set forth in 45 C.F.R. § 180.20.

B. Every hospital shall, upon request of a patient scheduled to receive an elective procedure, test, or service to be performed by the hospital, or upon request of such patient's legally authorized representative, made no less than three days in advance of the date on which such elective procedure, test, or service is scheduled to be performed, furnish the patient with an estimate of the payment amount for which the participant will be responsible for such elective procedure, test, or service. Every hospital shall provide written information about the patient's ability to request an estimate of the payment amount pursuant to this section. Such written information shall be posted conspicuously in public areas of the hospital, including admissions or registration areas, and included on any website maintained by the hospital.

2. That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2023.

3. That the Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall develop recommendations for implementation of this act, including any regulatory changes that may be necessary for implementation of this act, and shall report his recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2022.