The New York State Senate

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6061

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              March 4, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. LANCMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Health

AN ACT to amend the public health  law,  in  relation  to  enacting  the
  "transparency in health care fees act"

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
the "transparency in health care fees act".
  S  2. Article 29-D of the public health law is amended by adding a new
title 4 to read as follows:
                                 TITLE 4
                                 BILLING
SECTION 2999-L. HEALTH CARE BILLS.
  S 2999-L. HEALTH CARE BILLS.  1. FOR PURPOSES OF  THIS  TITLE  "HEALTH
CARE  PROVIDER"  SHALL  MEAN  A  PRACTITIONER IN AN INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE,
GROUP PRACTICE, PARTNERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION OR  OTHER  AUTHOR-
IZED  FORM  OF  ASSOCIATION, A HOSPITAL OR OTHER HEALTH CARE INSTITUTION
ISSUED AN OPERATING CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER OR  THE  MENTAL
HYGIENE  LAW,  A  CERTIFIED  HOME  HEALTH AGENCY OR A LICENSED HOME CARE
SERVICES AGENCY, AND ANY OTHER PURVEYOR  OF  HEALTH  OR  HEALTH  RELATED
ITEMS  OR SERVICES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A CLINICAL LABORATORY, A
PHYSIOLOGICAL LABORATORY, A PHARMACY, A PURVEYOR  OF  X-RAY  OR  IMAGING
SERVICES,  A PURVEYOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES, A PURVEYOR OF HEALTH
OR HEALTH RELATED SUPPLIES, APPLIANCES OR  EQUIPMENT,  OR  AN  AMBULANCE
SERVICE.
  2.  PRIOR  TO  PERFORMING  ANY  HEALTH  CARE SERVICES, ALL HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS SHALL ADVISE PATIENTS IN WRITING OF THE FEE TO BE  CHARGED  TO
THE PATIENT FOR THE SERVICES TO BE RENDERED IN THE EVENT SUCH FEE IS NOT
PAID FOR BY INSURANCE.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD09566-01-1