December 8, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives J. Anderson, Clancy, Drake, Jacobson, Joers, Madison, Moore Omokunde, Ortiz-Velez, Palmeri, Ratcliff, Shankland, Shelton, Snodgrass and Stubbs, cosponsored by Senator Smith. Referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care.
AB788,,22An Act to create 146.902 of the statutes; relating to: requiring publication of hospital chargemasters and providing a penalty. AB788,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill requires each hospital to file a copy of its chargemaster with the Department of Health Services on an annual basis. The bill defines the term “chargemaster” as “a uniform schedule of charges represented by the hospital as its gross billed charge for a given service or item, regardless of payer type.” Under the bill, hospitals must also make a written or electronic copy of the chargemaster available, either by posting an electronic copy of the chargemaster on the hospital website or by making a written or electronic copy available at the hospital location. If a hospital chooses to post an electronic copy on its website, the hospital must ensure it is posted in a conspicuous location on the website. In addition, hospitals must post a notice in the emergency department, if any, in the admissions office, and in the billing office that informs patients about the availability of the hospital’s chargemaster. Finally, the bill imposes a forfeiture of $100 for each day a hospital violates these requirements.
AB788,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: AB788,15Section 1. 146.902 of the statutes is created to read: AB788,,66146.902 Hospital chargemaster publication. (1) In this section: AB788,,77(a) “Chargemaster” means a uniform schedule of charges represented by a hospital as its gross billed charge for a given service or item, regardless of payer type. AB788,,88(b) “Hospital” has the meaning given in s. 50.33 (2). AB788,,99(c) “Patient” has the meaning given in s. 146.81 (3). AB788,,1010(2) Beginning July 1, 2024, each hospital shall file a copy of its chargemaster annually with the department, in a format determined by the department. AB788,,1111(3) Beginning July 1, 2024, each hospital shall make a written or electronic copy of its chargemaster available, either by posting an electronic copy of the chargemaster on the hospital’s website or by making at least one written or electronic copy available at the hospital location. If a hospital chooses to post an electronic copy of the chargemaster on its website, the hospital shall ensure that the copy is posted in a conspicuous location on the website. AB788,,1212(4) Each hospital shall post a clear and conspicuous notice in its emergency department, if any, in its admissions office, and in its billing office that informs patients that the hospital’s chargemaster is available as set forth in sub. (3). AB788,,1313(5) Any hospital that violates sub. (2), (3), or (4) shall be subject to a forfeiture of $100 for each violation, with each day of violation constituting a separate offense.
