California Health and Safety Code

§ 127405

HSC § 127405 Effective Jan 1, 2025Div. 107 · Part 2 · Ch. 2.5 · Art. 1

Statute text

(a)(1) (A) Each hospital shall maintain an understandable written policy regarding discount payments for financially qualified patients as well as an understandable written charity care policy. Uninsured patients or patients with high medical costs who are at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 127400, shall be eligible for participation under a hospital’s charity care policy or discount payment policy. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a hospital may choose to grant eligibility for its discount payment policy or charity care policies to patients with incomes over 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Both the charity care policy and the discount payment policy shall state the process used by the hospital to determine whether a patient is eligible for charity care or discounted payment. In the event of a dispute, a patient may seek review from the business manager, chief financial officer, or other appropriate manager as designated in the charity care policy and the discount payment policy.

(B)The written policy regarding discount payments shall also include a statement that an emergency physician, as defined in Section 127450, who provides emergency medical services in a hospital that provides emergency care is also required by law to provide discounts to uninsured patients or patients with high medical costs who are at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. This statement shall not be construed to impose any additional responsibilities upon the hospital.

(2)Rural hospitals, as defined in Section 124840, may establish eligibility levels for financial assistance and charity care at less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level as appropriate to maintain their financial and operational integrity.

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 511, Sec. 4. (AB 2297) Effective January 1, 2025.