HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2664
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the hawaii health systems corporation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 323F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§323F-  Consumer invoices; grievance procedure. (a)  Every Hawaii health systems facility, or a third party provider acting on its behalf, shall record and describe in detail, on a consumer's invoice, all medical or health care goods and services provided to a consumer at the Hawaii health systems facility.  To ensure transparency, medical or health care goods and services shall be listed separately on the invoice, which shall also state separately the subtotal prices for goods and services and the tax amount, if any, applicable to the goods and services.  The Hawaii health systems facility, or a third party provider acting on its behalf, shall provide a copy of the invoice to the consumer.

(b)  A Hawaii health systems facility, or a third party provider acting on its behalf, shall attach to the copy of each invoice provided to a consumer:

(1) A description of the internal grievance procedures followed by the Hawaii health systems facility for the investigation and resolution of consumer complaints and grievances related to the content of an invoice provided to a consumer by, or on behalf of, the Hawaii health systems facility; and

(2) A toll-free telephone number that the consumer may use to initiate the internal grievance procedures.

(c)  No Hawaii health systems facility that attempts through a contract to delegate its invoice functions to a third party provider shall be relieved of the requirements established under this section.  No contract entered into between a Hawaii health systems facility and a third party provider shall be valid unless the contract:

(1) Requires the third party provider to implement the internal grievance procedure described under subsection (d); and

(2) Requires the Hawaii health system facility to implement the internal grievance procedure upon the failure of the third party provider to implement it under paragraph (1).

(d)  Every Hawaii health systems facility, or a third party provider acting on its behalf, shall follow a uniform internal grievance procedure to be developed by the corporation for the investigation and resolution of consumer complaints and grievances related to the content of an invoice provided to a consumer by, or on behalf of, a Hawaii health systems facility.

(e)  For the purposes of this section:

"Grievance" means an oral or written complaint submitted in accordance with the corporation's uniform grievance procedure by, or on behalf of, the consumer regarding disputes over the contents of any invoice provided to a consumer by, or on behalf of, the Hawaii health systems facility.

"Services" include services of the type provided at a Hawaii health systems facility, including medical procedures, surgery, and other related services."

     SECTION 2.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

HHSC; Trade Practices; Invoices; Grievance Procedures

Description:

Requires HHSC health care system facilities to itemize their invoices to patients and to follow a uniform grievance procedure to investigate and resolve issues relating to invoices.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.