HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1576        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1013

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Aaron Michlewitz

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to prohibition on public-private cost shift.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Aaron Michlewitz

3rd Suffolk

1/15/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1576        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1013

By Mr. Michlewitz of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1013) of Aaron Michlewitz for legislation to prohibit health care providers from attempting to recoup unreimbursed amounts paid by government payors by increasing charges to nongovernmental payors.  Health Care Financing.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1040 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act relative to prohibition on public-private cost shift.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 12C of the General Laws is hereby amended by after section 22 inserting the following new section:

23: Contracting Rights of Private Payors- Unfair Methods of Competition and Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices in the Conduct of Health Care Providers

It shall be an unfair business trade practice for any health care provider to attempt to recoup any unreimbursed amounts paid by government payors by increasing charges to other nongovernmental payors. Violations of this section shall be subject to enforcement by the office of the attorney general.

The center shall monitor health care provider charges to ensure compliance with this section and shall report any non-compliance to the attorney general.  The center for health information and analysis in cooperation with the office of the attorney general shall promulgate regulations enforcing this subsection, which shall include penalties for noncompliance.