Pennsylvania SB 752: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, providing for hospital price transparency and for prohibition on collection action of debt against patients for noncompliant hospitals.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 836
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 752
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KEEFER, COLEMAN, KANE, SAVAL, STEFANO AND J. WARD,
MAY 27, 2025
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MAY 27, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), entitled "An
act relating to health care; prescribing the powers and
duties of the Department of Health; establishing and
providing the powers and duties of the State Health
Coordinating Council, health systems agencies and Health Care
Policy Board in the Department of Health, and State Health
Facility Hearing Board in the Department of Justice;
providing for certification of need of health care providers
and prescribing penalties," providing for hospital price
transparency and for prohibition on collection action of debt
against patients for noncompliant hospitals.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known
as the Health Care Facilities Act, is amended by adding chapters
to read:
CHAPTER 8-D
HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY
Section 801-D. Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to require hospitals to
disclose prices for certain items and services provided by
hospitals and to provide for enforcement by the department.
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Section 802-D. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Ancillary service." A hospital item or service that a
hospital customarily provides as part of a shoppable service.
"Chargemaster." The list of all hospital items or services
maintained by a hospital for which the hospital has established
a charge.
"CMS." The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
"De-identified maximum negotiated charge." The highest
charge that a hospital has negotiated with all third-party
payors for a hospital item or service.
"De-identified minimum negotiated charge." The lowest charge
that a hospital has negotiated with all third-party payors for a
hospital item or service.
"Discounted cash price." The charge that applies to an
individual who pays cash or a cash equivalent for a hospital
item or service.
"Facility fee." A fee charged or billed by a hospital for
outpatient services provided in an off-campus health care
facility, regardless of the modality through which the health
care service is provided, that is:
(1) Intended to compensate the health system or hospital
for health care expenses.
(2) Separate and distinct from a professional fee.
"Gross charge." The charge for a hospital item or service
that is reflected on the hospital's chargemaster, absent any
discount.
"Health care facility." As defined in section 802.1.
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"Health system." As defined in section 809.2.
"Hospital." As defined in section 802.1.
"Item or service." An item or service, including an
individual items or services package, that could be provided by
a hospital to a patient in connection with an inpatient
admission or an outpatient department visit for which the
hospital has established a standard charge, including any of the
following:
(1) A supply or procedure.
(2) Room and board.
(3) The use of the hospital or other item, which is
generally described as a facility fee.
(4) The service of a health care practitioner, which is
generally described as a professional fee.
(5) Any other item or service for which a hospital has
established a standard charge.
"Payor-specific negotiated charge." The charge that a
hospital has negotiated with a third-party payor for a hospital
item or service.
"Professional fee." A fee charged by a health care
practitioner for medical services.
"Readable format." A digital representation of information
in a file that can be easily opened, read and comprehended by an
individual with average computer skills and imported or read
into a computer system for further processing without any
additional preparation.
"Shoppable service." A service that may be scheduled by an
individual in advance.
"Standard charge." The regular rate established by the
hospital for a hospital item or service provided to a specific
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group of paying patients reported in United States dollar
amounts. The term includes any of the following:
(1) The gross charge.
(2) The payor-specific negotiated charge.
(3) The de-identified minimum negotiated charge.
(4) The de-identified maximum negotiated charge.
(5) The discounted cash price.
"Third-party payor." An entity that is legally responsible
for payment of a claim for a hospital item or service.
Section 803-D. Public availability of price information
required.
A hospital shall publish all of the following on its publicly
accessible Inter