HB 1469 — An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, providing for hospital price transparency and for prohibition on collection action of debt against patients for noncompliant hospitals.

PRINTER'S NO.   1729

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1469
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY KHAN, ROWE, SANCHEZ, TOMLINSON, PROKOPIAK,
        LEADBETER, PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, BURGOS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        SHUSTERMAN, SMITH-WADE-EL, WARREN, CIRESI, FLEMING, OTTEN,
        O'MARA, CERRATO, GREEN, STEELE, HOHENSTEIN, KENYATTA, HOWARD,
        MAYES, HANBIDGE, GIRAL, LABS, GUENST, INGLIS, COOPER, PUGH,
        KOZAK AND HAMM, MAY 14, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MAY 15, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), entitled "An
 2      act relating to health care; prescribing the powers and
 3      duties of the Department of Health; establishing and
 4      providing the powers and duties of the State Health
 5      Coordinating Council, health systems agencies and Health Care
 6      Policy Board in the Department of Health, and State Health
 7      Facility Hearing Board in the Department of Justice;
 8      providing for certification of need of health care providers
 9      and prescribing penalties," providing for hospital price
10      transparency and for prohibition on collection action of debt
11      against patients for noncompliant hospitals.
12      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13   hereby enacts as follows:
14      Section 1.    The act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known
15   as the Health Care Facilities Act, is amended by adding chapters
16   to read:
17                                CHAPTER 8-D
18                        HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY
19   Section 801-D.    Purpose.
20      The purpose of this chapter is to require hospitals to
 1   disclose prices for certain items and services provided by
 2   hospitals and to provide for enforcement by the department.
 3   Section 802-D.   Definitions.
 4      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
 5   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 6   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 7      "Ancillary service."     A hospital item or service that a
 8   hospital customarily provides as part of a shoppable service.
 9      "Chargemaster."   The list of all hospital items or services
10   maintained by a hospital for which the hospital has established
11   a charge.
12      "CMS."    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
13      "De-identified maximum negotiated charge."     The highest
14   charge that a hospital has negotiated with all third-party
15   payors for a hospital item or service.
16      "De-identified minimum negotiated charge."     The lowest charge
17   that a hospital has negotiated with all third-party payors for a
18   hospital item or service.
19      "Discounted cash price."     The charge that applies to an
20   individual who pays cash or a cash equivalent for a hospital
21   item or service.
22      "Facility fee."   A fee charged or billed by a hospital for
23   outpatient services provided in an off-campus health care
24   facility, regardless of the modality through which the health
25   care service is provided, that is:
26          (1)    Intended to compensate the health system or hospital
27      for health care expenses.
28          (2)    Separate and distinct from a professional fee.
29      "Gross charge."   The charge for a hospital item or service
30   that is reflected on the hospital's chargemaster, absent any

20250HB1469PN1729                    - 2 -
 1   discount.
 2      "Health care facility."     As defined in section 802.1.
 3      "Health system."    As defined in section 809.2.
 4      "Hospital."     As defined in section 802.1.
 5      "Item or service."     An item or service, including an
 6   individual items or services package, that could be provided by
 7   a hospital to a patient in connection with an inpatient
 8   admission or an outpatient department visit for which the
 9   hospital has established a standard charge, including any of the
10   following:
11          (1)   A supply or procedure.
12          (2)   Room and board.
13          (3)   The use of the hospital or other item, which is
14      generally described as a facility fee.
15          (4)   The service of a health care practitioner, which is
16      generally described as a professional fee.
17          (5)   Any other item or service for which a hospital has
18      established a standard charge.
19      "Payor-specific negotiated charge."     The charge that a
20   hospital has negotiated with a third-party payor for a hospital
21   item or service.
22      "Professional fee."    A fee charged by a health care
23   practitioner for medical services.
24      "Readable format."     A digital representation of information
25   in a file that can be easily opened, read and comprehended by an
26   individual with average computer skills and imported or read
27   into a computer system for further processing without any
28   additional preparation.
29      "Shoppable service."    A service that may be scheduled by an
30   individual in advance.

20250HB1469PN1729                    - 3 -
 1      "Standard charge."      The regular rate established by the
 2   hospital for a hospital item or service provided to a specific
 3   group of paying patients reported in United States dollar
 4   amounts. The term includes any of the following:
 5            (1)   The gross charge.
 6            (2)   The payor-specific negotiated charge.
 7            (3)   The de-identified minimum negotiated charge.
 8            (4)   The de-identified maximum negotiated charge.
 9            (5)   The discounted cash price.
10      "Third-party payor."     An entity that is legally responsible
11   for payment of a claim for a hospital item or service.
12   Section 803-D.     Public availability of price information
13                  required.
14      A hospital shall publish all of the following on its publicly
15   accessible Internet website and provide hard copies upon
16   request:
17            (1)   A digital file in a readable format and printable
18      format that contains a list of all standard charges for all
19      hospital items or services as specified under section 804-D.
20            (2)   A consumer-friendly and printable list of standard
21      charges for a limited set of shoppable services as provided
22      for under section 805-D.
23   Section 804-D.     List of standard charges.
24      (a)     List.--A hospital shall have the following duties:
25            (1)   Maintain a list of all standard charges for all
26      hospital items or services in accordance with this chapter.
27            (2)   Ensure that the list is always available to the
28      public, including publishing the list electronically in the
29      manner specified under section 803-D.
30      (b)     Standard charges.--The standard charges contained in the

20250HB1469PN1729                       - 4 -
 1   list under subsection (a) shall reflect the standard charges
 2   applicable to the location of the hospital, regardless of
 3   whether the hospital operates in more than one location or
 4   operates under the same license as another hospital.
 5      (c)   Contents.--A hospital shall include all of the following
 6   information in the list under subsection (a):
 7            (1)   A description of each hospital item or service
 8      provided by the hospital.
 9            (2)   The following charges for each individual hospital
10      item or service when provided in either an inpatient setting
11      or an outpatient department setting, as applicable,
12      including:
13                  (i)    The gross charge.
14                  (ii)    The de-identified minimum negotiated charge.
15                  (iii)    The de-identified maximum negotiated charge.
16                  (iv)    The discounted cash price.
17                  (v)    The payor-specific negotiated charge, delineated
18            by the name of the third-party payor and plan associated
19            with the charge and displayed in a manner that clearly
20            associates the charge with the third-party payor and
21            plan. A hospital must include all payors and all plans
22            accepted by the hospital in a manner clearly associated
23            with the name of the third-party payor and specific plan.
24                  (vi)    A code used by the hospital for the purpose of
25            accounting or billing for the hospital item or service,
26            including the Current Procedural Terminology code, the
27            Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code, the
28            Diagnosis Related Group code, the National Drug Code or
29            other common identifier.
30      (d)   Format.--A hospital shall publish the information

20250HB1469PN1729                       - 5 -
 1   contained in the list under subsection (a) in a single digital
 2   file that is in a readable format.
 3      (e)   Display.--A hospital shall display the list under
 4   subsection (a) by posting the list in a prominent location on
 5   the home page of the hospital's publicly accessible Internet
 6   website or making the list accessible by a dedicated link that
 7   is prominently displayed on the home page of the hospital's
 8   publicly accessible Internet website. If the hospital operates
 9   multiple locations and maintains a single Internet website, the
10   hospital shall post the list for each location that the hospital
11   operates in a manner that clearly associates the list with the
12   applicable location of the hospital and includes charges
13   specific to each individual hospital location.
14      (f)   Availability.--
15            (1)   A hospital shall ensure that the list under
16      subsection (a) complies with the following requirements:
17                  (i)    Be available free of charge.
18                  (ii)    Be accessible to a common commercial operator
19            of an Internet search engine to the extent necessary for
20            the search engine to index the list and display the list
21            in response to a search query of a user of the search
22            engine.
23                  (iii)    Be formatted in a manner specified under this
24            chapter and by the department via notice submitted to the
25            Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
26            available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
27                  (iv)    Be digitally searchable and printable by
28            service description, billing code and third-party payor.
29                  (v)    Use a format and a naming convention specified
30            by the department via notice submitted to the Legislative

20250HB1469PN1729                       - 6 -
 1            Reference Bureau for publication in the next available
 2            issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The department shall
 3            consider a naming convention as may be specified by CMS.
 4            (2)   The department shall ensure the list under
 5      subsection (a) does not require any of the following:
 6                  (i)    The establishment of a user account or password
 7            or other information of the user.
 8                  (ii)    The submission of personal identifying
 9            information.
10                  (iii)    Any other impediment, including entering a
11            code to access the list.
12      (g)   Template.--In determining the format of the list under
13   subsection (a) as required under subsection (f)(1), the
14   department shall develop a template that each hospital shall use
15   in formatting the list and publish the template via notice
16   submitted to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in
17   the next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. In
18   developing the template as required under this subsection, the
19   department shall have the following duties:
20            (1)   Take into consideration applicable Federal
21      guidelines for formatting similar lists required by Federal
22      law and ensure that the design of the template enables an
23      individual to compare the charges contained in the lists
24      maintained by each hospital.
25            (2)   Design the template to be substantially like the
26      template used by CMS for the purposes specified in this
27      chapter.
28      (h)   Updates.--A hospital shall update the list under
29   subsection (a) no less than once each year. The hospital shall
30   clearly indicate the date when the list was most recently

20250HB1469PN1729                       - 7 -
 1   updated, either on the list or in a manner that is clearly
 2   associated with the list. The hospital shall make available no
 3   less than the three most recent versions of the list as required
 4   under this chapter.
 5   Section 805-D.    List of shoppable services.
 6      (a)   List.--Except as provided under subsection (c), a
 7   hospital shall maintain and make publicly available a list of
 8   the standard charges for each of at least 300 shoppable services
 9   provided by the hospital with charges specific to that
10   individual hospital location. The hospital may select the
11   shoppable services to be included in the list, except that the
12   list shall include the 70 services specified as shoppable
13   services by CMS. If the hospital does not provide all the
14   shoppable services specified by CMS, the hospital shall include
15   all the shoppable services provided by the hospital.
16      (b)   Selection.--In selecting a shoppable service for the
17   purpose of inclusion in the list under subsection (a), a
18   hospital shall have following duties:
19            (1)   Consider how frequently the hospital provides the
20      service and the hospital's billing rate for the service.
21            (2)   Prioritize the selection of services that are among
22      the services most frequently provided by the hospital.
23      (c)   Exception.--If a hospital does not provide 300 shoppable
24   services in the list under subsection (a), the hospital shall
25   include the total number of shoppable services that the hospital
26   provides in a manner that otherwise complies with the
27   requirements of subsection (a).
28      (d)   Contents.--A hospital shall include all of the following
29   information in the list under subsection (a):
30            (1)   A plain-language description of each shoppable

20250HB1469PN1729                    - 8 -
 1    service included on the list.
 2        (2)     The payor-specific negotiated charge that applies to
 3    each shoppable service included on the list and any ancillary
 4    service, delineated by the name of the third-party payor and
 5    plan associated with the charge and displayed in a manner
 6    that clearly associates the charge with the third-party payor
 7    and plan.
 8        (3)     The discounted cash price that applies to each
 9    shoppable service included on the list and any ancillary
10    service or, if the hospital does not offer a discounted cash
11    price for a shoppable service or an ancillary service on the
12    list, the gross charge for the shoppable service or ancillary
13    service, as applicable.
14        (4)     The de-identified minimum negotiated charge that
15    applies to each shoppable service included on the list and
16    any ancillary service.
17        (5)     The de-identified maximum negotiated charge that
18    applies to each shoppable service included on the list and
19    any ancillary service.
20        (6)     A code used by the hospital for purposes of
21    accounting or billing for each shoppable service included on
22    the list and any ancillary service, including the Current
23    Procedural Terminology code, the Healthcare Common Procedure
24    Coding System code, the Diagnosis Related Group code, the
25    National Drug Code or other common identifier.
26        (7)     If applicable, each location where the hospital
27    provides a shoppable service and whether the standard charges
28    included in the list apply at the location to the provision
29    of the shoppable service in an inpatient setting or an
30    outpatient department setting.

20250HB1469PN1729                  - 9 -
 1          (8)   If applicable, an indication if a shoppable service
 2    specified by CMS is not provided by the hospital.
 3    (e)   Availability.--
 4          (1)   A hospital shall ensure that the list under
 5    subsection (a) complies with the following requirements:
 6                (i)    Be available free of charge.
 7                (ii)    Be accessible to a common commercial operator
 8          of an Internet search engine to the extent necessary for
 9          the search engine to index the list and display the list
10          in response to a search query of a user of the search
11          engine.
12                (iii)    Be formatted in a manner specified under this
13          chapter and by the department via notice submitted to the
14          Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
15          available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
16                (iv)    Be digitally searchable and printable by
17          service description, billing code and third-party payor.
18                (v)    Use a format and a naming convention specified
19          by the department via notice submitted to the Legislative
20          Reference Bureau for publication in the next available
21          issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The department shall
22          consider a naming convention as may be specified by CMS.
23                (vi)    Nothing in this section shall preclude a
24          hospital from using a price estimator tool as provided
25          for in 45 CFR 180.60 (relating to requirements for
26          displaying shoppable services in a consumer-friendly
27          manner) in addition to the list of shoppable services.
28          (2)   The department shall ensure that the list under
29    subsection (a) does not require any of the following:
30                (i)    The establishment of a user account or password

20250HB1469PN1729                     - 10 -
 1            or other information of the user.
 2                  (ii)    The submission of personal identifying
 3            information.
 4                  (iii)    Any other impediment, including entering a
 5            code to access the list.
 6      (f)   Template.--In determining the format of the list under
 7   subsection (a) as required under subsection (e)(1), the
 8   department shall develop a template that each hospital shall use
 9   in formatting the list and transmit the template via notice to
10   the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
11   available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. In developing the
12   template as required under this subsection, the department shall
13   have the following duties:
14            (1)   Take into consideration applicable Federal
15      guidelines for formatting similar lists required by Federal
16      law and ensure that the design of the template enables an
17      individual to compare the charges contained in the lists
18      maintained by each hospital.
19            (2)   Design the template to be substantially like the
20      template used by CMS for the purposes specified in this
21      chapter.
22      (g)   Updates.--A hospital shall update the list under
23   subsection (a) no less than once each year. The hospital shall
24   clearly indicate the date when the list was most recently
25   updated, either on the list or in a manner that is clearly
26   associated with the list. The hospital shall make available no
27   less than the three most recent versions of the list as required
28   under this chapter.
29   Section 806-D.        Reporting requirements.
30      (a)   Frequency.--Each time a hospital creates or updates a

20250HB1469PN1729                       - 11 -
 1   list as required under section 804-D or 805-D, the hospital
 2   shall submit the list, along with a report on the list, to the
 3   department. The department shall determine the form of the
 4   report via notice submitted to the Legislation Reference Bureau
 5   for publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
 6   Bulletin.
 7      (b)   Complete data.--To be considered in compliance, any list
 8   received by the department shall include a minimum of 95% of all
 9   values required under section 804-D or 805-D and shall indicate
10   where values are not applicable according to the determined form
11   and format of the department.
12      (c)   Annual report.--By July 1 of each year, a hospital shall
13   report to the department on facility fees charged or billed
14   during the preceding calendar year. The department shall
15   determine the form of the report and transmit notice to the
16   Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
17   available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The report shall
18   include, at a minimum:
19            (1)   The name and location of each health care facility
20      owned or operated by the hospital that provides services for
21      which a facility fee is charged or billed.
22            (2)   The number of patient visits at each health care
23      facility for which a facility fee was charged or billed.
24            (3)   The number, total amount and types of allowable
25      facility fees paid at each health care facility by Medicare,
26      Medical Assistance and private insurance.
27            (4)   For each health care facility, the total number of
28      facility fees charged and the total amount of revenue
29      received by the hospital or health system derived from
30      facility fees.

20250HB1469PN1729                    - 12 -
 1             (5)   The total amount of facility fees charged and the
 2      total amount of revenue received by the hospital or health
 3      system from all health care facilities derived from facility
 4      fees.
 5             (6)   The 10 most frequent procedures or services,
 6      identified by Current Procedural Terminology Category I
 7      codes, provided by the hospital that generated the largest
 8      amount of facility fee gross revenue, including:
 9                   (i)    The volume of each procedure or service.
10                   (ii)    The gross and net revenue totals for each
11             procedure or service.
12                   (iii)    The total net amount of revenue received by
13             the hospital or health system derived from facility fees
14             for each procedure or service.
15             (7)   The 10 most frequent procedures or services,
16      identified by Current Procedural Terminology Category I
17      codes, based on patient volume, provided by the hospital for
18      which facility fees were billed or charged, including the
19      gross and net revenue totals received for each procedure or
20      service.
21             (8)   Any other information related to facility fees the
22      department may require.
23      (d)    Attestation.--An authorized executive of a hospital or
24   health system shall attest, subject to 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904
25   (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities), that any
26   report or list submitted to the department is complete and
27   accurate to the best of the authorized executive's knowledge and
28   belief.
29      (e)    Public availability.--The department shall make all
30   reports and lists available on its publicly accessible Internet

20250HB1469PN1729                        - 13 -
 1   website within 60 days of receipt of each report.
 2      (f)    Applicability.--A health system may make the report for
 3   each hospital that it owns or operates, provided that each
 4   hospital has its own separate report.
 5   Section 807-D.     Submission of complaints.
 6      The department shall establish an electronic form for
 7   individuals to submit complaints for alleged violations of this
 8   chapter. The department shall post the electronic form on its
 9   publicly accessible Internet website. The department shall also
10   accept complaints via a department customer service telephone
11   number.
12   Section 808-D.     Plans of correction.
13      Upon determining that a hospital has violated the provisions
14   of this chapter or the regulations promulgated under section
15   813-D, the department may issue a written notice to the hospital
16   stating that a violation has been committed by the hospital. The
17   following shall apply:
18             (1)   The department shall state in the written notice
19      that the hospital is required to take immediate action to
20      remedy the violation or, if the hospital is unable to
21      immediately remedy the violation, submit a plan of correction
22      to the department.
23             (2)   If the hospital is required to submit a plan of
24      correction to the department under paragraph (1), the
25      department may direct that the violation be remedied within a
26      specified period of time. The hospital must submit the plan
27      of correction within 30 days of the department's issuance of
28      the written notice.
29             (3)   If the department determines that the hospital is
30      required to take immediate corrective action, the department

20250HB1469PN1729                     - 14 -
 1      shall state in the written notice that the hospital is
 2      required to provide prompt confirmation to the department
 3      that the corrective action has been taken.
 4   Section 809-D.    Sanctions and penalties.
 5      (a)   Grounds for sanctions.--The department may sanction a
 6   hospital for any of the following reasons:
 7            (1)   Violating the provisions of this chapter or the
 8      regulations promulgated under section 813-D.
 9            (2)   Failing to take immediate action to remedy a
10      violation of the provisions of this chapter or regulations
11      promulgated under section 813-D.
12            (3)   Failing to submit a plan of correction to the
13      department or failing to comply with a plan of correction in
14      accordance with section 808-D.
15            (4)   Violating an order previously issued by the
16      department in a disciplinary matter.
17            (5)   Any other reason specified in this chapter or the
18      regulations promulgated by the department under section 813-D
19      as necessary to implement this chapter.
20      (b)   Civil penalties.--The department may impose a civil
21   penalty for conduct prohibited under subsection (a), with each
22   day when a hospital engages in the conduct constituting a
23   separate and distinct incident, as follows:
24            (1)   No more than $2,500 for a first incident.
25            (2)   No more than $5,000 for a second incident.
26            (3)   No more than $10,000 for a third incident.
27            (4)   No more than $15,000 for a fourth or subsequent
28      incident.
29      (c)   Ineligibility.--A hospital that is sanctioned under
30   subsection (a) for a third or subsequent offense shall be

20250HB1469PN1729                    - 15 -
 1   ineligible to receive a payment from the uncompensated care
 2   payment program under Chapter 11 of the act of June 26, 2001
 3   (P.L.755, No.77), known as the Tobacco Settlement Act, for the
 4   fiscal year following the third or subsequent offense.
 5      (d)   Audits.--The department may audit the publicly
 6   accessible Internet websites of hospitals to ensure compliance
 7   with this chapter.
 8      (e)   General government appropriations.--Money received from
 9   civil penalties imposed by the department on a hospital shall be
10   paid into the General Fund.
11      (f)   Administrative proceedings.--The department shall hold
12   hearings and issue adjudications for proceedings conducted under
13   this chapter in accordance with 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to
14   administrative law and procedure) and shall conduct the
15   proceedings in accordance with 1 Pa. Code Pt. II (relating to
16   general rules of administrative practice and procedure).
17      (g)   Judicial appeals.--Department adjudications issued under
18   this chapter may be appealed to Commonwealth Court under 42
19   Pa.C.S. § 763 (relating to direct appeals from government
20   agencies).
21   Section 810-D.    Readable format requirements.
22      For purposes of this chapter, the following shall apply to a
23   hospital providing digital files in a readable format:
24            (1)   The hospital shall format the file without
25      additional rows or spacing between data.
26            (2)   The file shall be readily usable without any
27      additional instructions.
28            (3)   The file shall be in a readable format that is
29      widely used by other hospitals for cross-comparison purposes.
30   Section 811-D.    Disclosure of facility fees.

20250HB1469PN1729                    - 16 -
 1      (a)     Notice.--A health care facility affiliated with or owned
 2   by a hospital that charges a facility fee shall disclose to a
 3   patient at the time an appointment is scheduled, and at the time
 4   medical services are rendered, that a facility fee may be
 5   charged.
 6      (b)     Disclosure.--Disclosure of facility fees shall occur on
 7   a plain language notice as determined by the department. The
 8   department shall transmit the notice to the Legislative
 9   Reference Bureau for publication in the next available issue of
10   the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The notice shall include, at a
11   minimum:
12            (1)   The dollar amount of the patient's potential
13      financial liability for a facility fee if a diagnosis and
14      extent of medical treatment is known.
15            (2)   An estimated range in dollars of the patient's
16      potential financial liability for a facility fee if the
17      diagnosis and extent of medical treatment is unknown.
18            (3)   If applicable, a statement that the patient may
19      incur a financial liability to the health care facility that
20      the patient would not incur if the patient was receiving
21      medical services and treatment on the campus of the hospital.
22   Section 812-D.    Reports.
23      The department shall report annually on the progress in
24   implementing and administering this chapter and submit the
25   report to:
26            (1)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
27      Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
28            (2)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
29      Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
30            (3)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

20250HB1469PN1729                    - 17 -
 1      Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
 2            (4)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
 3      Health Committee of the House of Representatives.
 4            (5)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
 5      Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
 6   Section 813-D.    Regulations.
 7      (a)   Temporary regulations.--In order to facilitate the
 8   prompt implementation of this chapter, regulations promulgated
 9   by the department shall be deemed temporary regulations that
10   shall expire no later than two years following publication.
11   Temporary regulations promulgated under this subsection shall
12   not be subject to:
13            (1)   Section 612 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
14      No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929.
15            (2)   Sections 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 of the act of
16      July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the
17      Commonwealth Documents Law.
18            (3)   Sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the act of October
19      15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth
20      Attorneys Act.
21            (4)   The act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as
22      the Regulatory Review Act.
23      (b)   Expiration.--The department's authority to adopt
24   temporary regulations under subsection (a) shall expire two
25   years after the effective date of this subsection. Regulations
26   adopted after this period shall be promulgated as provided by
27   law.
28      (c)   Publication.--The department shall begin submitting the
29   temporary regulations to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
30   publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania

20250HB1469PN1729                     - 18 -
 1   Bulletin no later than six months after the effective date of
 2   this subsection.
 3      (d)   Regulations.--The department shall promulgate
 4   regulations as provided by law prior to the expiration of the
 5   temporary regulations as necessary to implement this chapter.
 6                                   CHAPTER 8-E
 7                   PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION ACTION OF DEBT
 8                  AGAINST PATIENTS FOR NONCOMPLIANT HOSPITALS
 9   Section 801-E.      Purpose.
10      The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the prohibition
11   on collection action of debt for noncompliant hospitals.
12   Section 802-E.      Definitions.
13      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
14   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
15   context clearly indicates otherwise:
16      "Collection action."        Any of the following actions taken with
17   respect to a debt for an item or service that was purchased from
18   or provided to a patient by a hospital on a date during which
19   the hospital was not in material compliance with Chapter 8-D:
20            (1)    Attempting to collect a debt from a patient or
21      patient guarantor by referring the debt, directly or
22      indirectly, to a debt collector, a collection agency or other
23      third party retained by or on behalf of the hospital.
24            (2)    Suing the patient or patient guarantor or enforcing
25      an arbitration or mediation clause in a hospital document,
26      including any contract, agreement, statement or bill.
27            (3)    Directly or indirectly causing a report to be made
28      to a consumer reporting agency.
29      "Collection agency."        Any of the following:
30            (1)    A person that engages in a business for the

20250HB1469PN1729                       - 19 -
 1      principal purpose of collecting debts.
 2          (2)   A person that does any of the following:
 3                (i)    Regularly collects or attempts to collect,
 4          directly or indirectly, debts owed or due or asserted to
 5          be owed or due to another.
 6                (ii)    Takes assignment of debts for collection
 7          purposes.
 8                (iii)    Directly or indirectly solicits for collection
 9          debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due to
10          another.
11      "Consumer reporting agency."      A person that, for monetary
12   fees, dues or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly
13   engages, in whole or in part, in the practice of assembling or
14   evaluating consumer credit information or other information on
15   consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to
16   third parties. The term includes "consumer reporting agency" as
17   defined in 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(f) (relating to definitions; rules
18   of construction). The term does not include a business entity
19   that only provides check verification or check guarantee
20   services.
21      "Debt."   An obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer to
22   pay money arising out of a transaction, whether or not the
23   obligation has been reduced to judgment. The term does not
24   include a debt for business, investment, commercial or
25   agricultural purposes or a debt incurred by a business.
26      "Debt collector."     A person employed or engaged by a
27   collection agency to perform the collection of debts owed or
28   due, or asserted to be owed or due, to another.
29      "Hospital."      As defined in section 802.1.
30      "Item or service."     As defined in section 802-D.

20250HB1469PN1729                     - 20 -
 1   Section 803-E.     Failure to comply with hospital price
 2                  transparency.
 3      (a)   Prohibition.--Except as provided under subsection (d), a
 4   hospital that is in violation of the requirements under Chapter
 5   8-D on the date when an item or service is purchased from or
 6   provided to a patient by the hospital may not initiate or pursue
 7   a collection action against the patient or patient guarantor for
 8   a debt owed for the item or service.
 9      (b)   Civil action.--If a patient believes that a hospital is
10   in violation of the requirements under Chapter 8-D on the date
11   when an item or service is purchased from or provided to the
12   patient and the hospital takes a collection action against the
13   patient or patient guarantor, the patient or patient guarantor
14   may initiate a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction
15   to determine if the hospital is in violation of Chapter 8-D and
16   the noncompliance is related to the item or service. The
17   hospital may not take a collection action against the patient or
18   patient guarantor or submit a report to a patient's or patient
19   guarantor's credit report while the civil action is pending.
20      (c)   Noncompliance.--A hospital that has been determined to
21   be in violation of the requirements under Chapter 8-D shall:
22            (1)   refund the payor an amount of the debt the payor has
23      paid and forgive any remaining debt of a payer relative to a
24      violation of the requirements under Chapter 8-D;
25            (2)   dismiss or cause to be dismissed a civil action
26      under subsection (b) with prejudice and pay any attorney fees
27      and costs incurred by the patient or patient guarantor
28      relating to the action; and
29            (3)   remove or cause to be removed from the patient's or
30      patient guarantor's credit report a report made to a consumer

20250HB1469PN1729                    - 21 -
 1      reporting agency relating to the debt.
 2      (d)   Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
 3   construed to:
 4            (1)   prohibit a hospital from billing a patient, patient
 5      guarantor or third-party payor, including a health insurer,
 6      for an item or service provided to the patient in a manner
 7      that is not in violation of this chapter; or
 8            (2)   require a hospital to refund a payment made to the
 9      hospital for an item or service provided to the patient if no
10      collection action is taken in violation of this chapter.
11      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 180 days.




20250HB1469PN1729                    - 22 -