The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday targeted at combating surprise medical bills.
State legislators unanimously passed House Bill 2216, which necessitates providers notify patients of potential out-of-network service charges. Specifically, HB 2216 would require in-network hospitals to notify patients if certain providers are out of their insurance network, disclose whether the provider will practice balance billing and present a good-faith estimate of out-of-network charges.
The bill states hospitals must provide patients the above information 14 days before they receive scheduled, nonemergency services. In the case of emergency treatment, HB 2216 requires hospitals notify patients of their providers' network status "as soon as [it is] practical once the enrollee is stabilized."
State Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, authored the measure. If it passes Oklahoma's Senate, the bill would take effect Nov. 1.