Bill Text: AZ SCR1002 | 2013 | Fifty-first Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced


Bill Title: Health care; direct pay prices

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 16-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-20 - Referred to Senate RULES Committee [SCR1002 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2013-SCR1002-Introduced.html

 

 

 

REFERENCE TITLE: health care; direct pay prices

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-first Legislature

First Regular Session

2013

 

 

SCR 1002

 

Introduced by

Senators Barto, Crandell, Murphy; Representative Stevens: Senators Biggs, Griffin, Melvin, Reagan, Shooter, Ward, Yarbrough; Representatives Dial, Gowan, Kwasman, Mitchell, Robson

 

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

Enacting and ordering the submission to the people of a measure relating to health care.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 



Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

1.  Under the power of the referendum, as vested in the Legislature, the following measure, relating to health care, is enacted to become valid as a law if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

an act

Amending title 32, chapter 32, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 32-3216; amending title 36, chapter 4, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36‑437; providing for the delayed repeal of sections 32‑3216 and 36‑437, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act; relating to health care.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Title 32, chapter 32, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 32-3216, to read:

START_STATUTE32-3216.  Health care providers; charges; public availability; definitions

A.  A health care provider must make available to the public on request in a single document the direct pay price for at least the twenty-five most common services for the health care provider.  The services may be identified by a common procedural terminology code or by a plain‑English description.  The document must be updated at least annually.  The direct pay price must be for the standard diagnosis for the service and may include any complications or exceptional treatment.

B.  A health care provider is not required to report the direct pay prices to a government agency or department or to a government-authorized or government‑created entity for review or filing. A government agency or department or government‑authorized or government‑created entity may not approve, disapprove or limit a health care provider's direct pay price for services.

C.  A public or private entity whose function or purpose is the management, processing or enrollment of individuals or the payment, in full or in part, of health care services may not punish a person or employer for paying directly for lawful health care services or a health care provider for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for lawful health care services.

D.  For the purposes of this section:

1.  "Direct pay price" means the price that will be charged for a lawful health care service, regardless of the health insurance status of the patient, if the service is paid directly to a health care provider without a public or private third party, other than the employer from whom the patient may have health insurance.

2.  "Health care provider" means a person who is licensed pursuant to chapter 7, 8, 13, 15, 16 or 17 of this title.

3.  "Punish" means to impose an adverse consequence, including an additional fee, a penalty, a tax or an increased premium, or to eliminate or withdraw a service. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Title 36, chapter 4, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-437, to read:

START_STATUTE36-437.  Health care facilities; charges; public availability; definitions

A.  A health care facility must make available to the public on request in a single document the direct pay price for at least the fifty most used diagnosis-related group codes, if applicable, for the facility and at least the fifty most used outpatient service codes, if applicable, for the facility.  The health care facility must update the document at least annually. The direct pay price must be for the standard diagnosis for the service and may include any complications or exceptional treatment.

B.  A health care facility is not required to report the direct pay prices to a government agency or department or to a government-authorized or government‑created entity for review or filing. A government agency or department or government‑authorized or government‑created entity may not approve, disapprove or limit a health care facility's direct pay price for services.

C.  A public or private entity whose function or purpose is the management, processing or enrollment of individuals or the payment, in full or in part, of health care services may not punish a person or employer for paying directly for lawful health care services or a health care facility for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for lawful health care services.

D.  For the purposes of this section:

1.  "Direct pay price" means the price that will be charged for a lawful health care service, regardless of the health insurance status of the patient, if the service is paid directly to a health care facility without a public or private third party, other than the employer from whom the patient may have health insurance.

2.  "Health care facility" means a hospital, outpatient surgical center, health care laboratory, diagnostic imaging center or urgent care center.

3.  "Punish" means to impose an adverse consequence, including an additional fee, a penalty, a tax or an increased premium, or to eliminate or withdraw a service. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.  Delayed repeal

Sections 32‑3216 and 36‑437, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, are repealed from and after December 31, 2020.

2.  The Secretary of State shall submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election as provided by article IV, part 1, section 1, Constitution of Arizona.

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