A. In addition to any other actions required by applicable state or federal law or local government ordinance, health care facilities shall take the following steps before seeking payment for emergency or medically necessary care:

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(1)     offer to and, if requested, verify whether a patient has any health insurance;

(2)     if the patient is uninsured, offer information about, offer to screen the patient for and, if requested, screen the patient for:

(a) all available public insurance;

(b) any other public programs that may assist with health care costs; and

(c) any financial assistance offered by the health care facility;

(3)     offer to and, if requested, provide assistance with the application process for programs identified during the screening; and

(4)     if a third-party health care provider will bill the patient, send the information gathered during the steps required pursuant to this subsection to the third-party health care provider.

B. In addition to any other actions required by applicable state or federal law or local government ordinance, a third-party health care provider shall not seek payment for emergency or medically necessary care until the third-party health care provider receives the information required pursuant to Paragraph (4) of Subsection A of this section.

C. The superintendent shall promulgate rules to establish minimum standards governing the requirements of this section and shall provide health care facilities and third-party health care providers with guidance on billing and screening best practices, based on health care facility type and size, that includes policies to prevent the disclosure of patients’ personal information to third parties.