WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 5530

By Delegates Summers, Tully, and Jeffries

[Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources; Reported on February 20, 2024]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section designated, §16-5B-21, relating to requiring a hospital to disclose price and fee information for certain health care services.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5B. HOSPITALS AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS.

§16-5B-21. Price transparency.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) Under 45 C.F.R. Part 180, each hospital operating in the United States is required to provide clear, accessible pricing information online about the items and services that the hospital provides; and

(2) Easy-to-understand pricing information is essential to support patients, prevent fraud, and protect consumers from unfair medical bills.

(b) (1) A hospital licensed in this state shall comply with 45 C.F.R. 2 Part 180, as existing on January 1, 2023.

(2) If the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification finds that a hospital licensed in this state has not complied with 45 C.F.R. Part 180, as existing on January 1, 2023, then the department may fine the hospital $250 per day for noncompliance.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require hospital to disclose price and fee information for certain hospital services.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.