(a) A hospital shall provide to the department a copy of its discount payment policy, charity care policy, eligibility procedures for those policies, review process, and the application for charity care or discounted payment programs, as well as a copy of its debt collection policy. The department may determine whether the information is to be provided electronically or in some other similar manner. The information shall be provided at least biennially on January 1, or when a significant change is made. If no significant change has been made by the hospital since the information was previously provided, notifying the department of the lack of change shall meet the requirements of this section. The department shall make this information available to the public on its internet website.

(b) The department shall review a hospital’s policy for compliance with this article by January 1, 2023, and whenever a significant change is made and submitted to the department.

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Terms Used In California Health and Safety Code 127435

  • Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
  • Department: means the Department of Health Care Access and Information. See California Health and Safety Code 127400
  • Hospital: means a facility that is required to be licensed under subdivision (a), (b), or (f) of Section 1250, except a facility operated by the State Department of State Hospitals or the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. See California Health and Safety Code 127400

(c) A patient shall not be denied financial assistance that would be available pursuant to the policy published on the department’s internet website at the time of service.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 84) by Stats. 2021, Ch. 473, Sec. 11. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2022.)

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