A bill that prevents California patients from facing surprise out-of-network bills after they visit hospitals in their network has advanced in the state assembly, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The California state senate approved AB533 by Democratic Assemblyman Rob Bonta on a bipartisan 25-10 vote. The bill was sponsored by Sacramento-based Health Access California.
Some were not pleased with the advancement of the bill. Democratic Senator Richard Pan, a pediatrician, said the proposal could reduce access to specialists.
Democratic Senator Ed Hernandez, who presented Assemblyman Bonta's bill, said doctors would have a dispute resolution process to challenge low payments.