(a) Each emergency physician shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain from the patient, or his or her representative, information about whether private or public health insurance or sponsorship may fully or partially cover the charges for emergency care rendered by the emergency physician to a patient, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(1) Private health insurance, including coverage offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange.
(2) Medicare.
(3) The Medi-Cal program, the Healthy Families Program, the California Children’s Services program, or other state- or county-funded programs designed to provide comprehensive health coverage.
(b) If the emergency physician or his or her representative bills a patient who has not provided proof of coverage by a third party at the time the care is provided or upon discharge, as a part of that billing, the emergency physician shall provide the patient with a clear and conspicuous notice that includes all of the following:
(1) A statement of charges for services rendered by the emergency physician.
(2) A request that the patient inform the emergency physician if the patient has health insurance coverage, Medicare, Healthy Families Program, Medi-Cal, or other coverage.
(3) A statement that if the consumer does not have health insurance coverage, the consumer may be eligible for Medicare, Healthy Families Program, Medi-Cal, coverage through the California Health Benefit Exchange, California Children’s Services program, other state- or county-funded health coverage, or discounted payment care.
(4) Information regarding the financially qualified patient and discounted payment application, including the following:
(A) A statement that indicates that if the patient lacks, or has inadequate, insurance, and meets certain low- and moderate-income requirements, the patient may qualify for discounted payment. That statement shall also provide patients with a referral to a local consumer assistance center housed at legal services offices.
(B) The name and telephone number of the emergency physician’s employee or office from whom or which the patient may obtain information about the emergency physician’s discount payment policy, and how to apply for that assistance.
(C) If a patient applies, or has a pending application for, another health coverage program at the same time that he or she applies for charity care or a discount payment program, neither application shall preclude eligibility for the other program.
(c) (1) In addition to the statement of the charges, if the emergency physician uses the following notice in any billing, that emergency physician shall be deemed to have complied with the notice requirements of this section: “If you are uninsured or have high medical costs, please contact ____ (name of person responsible for discount payment policy) at ____ (area code and phone number) for information on discounts and programs for which you may be eligible, including the Medi-Cal program. If you have coverage, please tell us so that we may bill your plan.”
(2) If the emergency physician or the assignee of the emergency physician lacks the capacity to provide the notice specified in paragraph (1), the emergency physician or his or her assignee shall be deemed to have complied with the notice requirements of this section if the information required under this section is provided upon request and if the following is printed on the bill in 14-point bold type: “If uninsured or high medical bill, call re: discount.”
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 758, Sec. 6. (SB 1276) Effective January 1, 2015.)