Bill Text: NJ S1511 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Limits rescheduling, cancellation, and no-show fees providers of health care services may charge in certain instances.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S1511 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S1511-Introduced.html

SENATE, No. 1511

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 13, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Senator  DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO

District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Limits rescheduling, cancellation, and no-show fees providers of health care services may charge in certain instances.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 


An Act concerning fees charged by providers of health care services and supplementing chapter 8 of Title 56 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  As used in this section, "provider of health care services" means a provider of health care services as defined in subsection i. of section 1 of P.L.1985, c.236 (C.17:48E-1).

     b.    No provider of health care services shall charge a new or returning patient any fee for cancelling or rescheduling more than 24 hours in advance of an appointment.  A provider of health care services may charge a new or returning patient a fee of not more than $25 for cancelling or rescheduling less than 24 hours in advance of an appointment, or failing to appear at a scheduled appointment, if the patient:

     (1)   was given notification, orally or in writing, at the time when the appointment was made that a fee would apply; and

     (2)   had previously canceled or rescheduled less than 24 hours in advance of an appointment made for the same or a similar reason, or failed to appear at a scheduled appointment, on two, separate, previous occasions in the past six months.

 

     2.    A person who violates the provisions of section 1 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $500 for the first violation, and not more than $1,000 for the second and any subsequent violation.  The civil penalty shall be collected pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), in a summary proceeding before the municipal court having jurisdiction.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would prohibit a health care provider from charging a patient a fee for rescheduling or cancelling an appointment more than 24 hours in advance.  In addition, the bill would prohibit the assessment of fees for cancelling or rescheduling less than 24 hours in advance of an appointment, or failing to appear at a scheduled appointment, unless the patient: (1) was given notification at the time when the appointment was made that a fee would apply, and (2) previously canceled or rescheduled an appointment for the same or a similar reason less than 24 hours in advance, or failed to appear at a scheduled appointment, on two previous occasions in the past six months.

     Under the bill, the maximum fee that could be assessed for rescheduling, cancelling, or failing to appear at a scheduled appointment would be $25.

     The penalty for a violation of the bill would be not more than $500 for a first offense and not more than $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense.

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