Introduced Version
House Bill 2239 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2239
(By Delegate Manypenny)
[Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
Committee on Health and Human Resources then the
Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §16-5B-18; and to
amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated
§30-3-19, all relating to requiring doctors and hospitals to
bill patients within one year of when the goods and services
were provided; and requiring doctors and hospitals to state
with specificity any charges identified as miscellaneous.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated as §16-5B-18; and to
amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated
§30-3-19, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 16. PUBLIC HEALTH.
ARTICLE 5B. HOSPITALS AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS.
§16-5B-18. Billing limitations; specificity.
__________(a) A person, partnership, association, corporation, or any
local governmental unit or any division, department, board or
agency that establishes, conducts, or maintains in the State of
West Virginia any ambulatory health care facility, ambulatory
surgical facility, freestanding or operated in connection with a
hospital, hospital or extended care facility operated in connection
with a hospital who bills a patient for goods or services provided
must do so within one year of when the goods or services were
provided. A billing submitted after that one year period is null
and void and is unenforceable, either in law or equity, against the
patient.
__________(b) Billings for goods or services that includes any
"miscellaneous" or similar charges shall identify with specificity
the type and amount of those charges. A billing for miscellaneous
goods or services not so identified is null and void and is
unenforceable, either in law or equity, against the patient.
CHAPTER 30. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS.
ARTICLE 3. WEST VIRGINIA MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT.
§30-3-19. Billing limitations; specificity.
__________(a) A person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or
podiatry who bills a patient for goods or services provided must do
so within one year of when the goods or services were provided. A billing submitted after that one year period is null and void and
is unenforceable, either in law or equity, against the patient.
__________(b) Billings for goods or services that includes any
"miscellaneous" or similar charges shall identify with specificity
the type and amount of those charges. A billing for miscellaneous
goods or services not so identified is null and is unenforceable,
either in law or equity, against the patient.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require doctors and
hospitals to bill patients within one year of when the goods and
services were provided. The bill requires doctors and hospitals to
state with specificity any charges identified as miscellaneous.
A
bill not submitted within one year or which does not itemize
miscellaneous
charges is null and void and not enforceable against
the patient.
These sections are new; therefore, they have been completely
underscored.