AN ACT relating to consumer protection in health care.
     Create a new section of KRS Chapter 367 prohibit health care providers from billing, seeking reimbursement from, or having any recourse against an enrollee or subscriber, their covered dependents, or agents for any professional health services, treatment, or supplies if the health care provider has entered into a provider agreement and is a participating provider under a health benefit plan or the enrollee, subscriber, or their dependents are protected by a hold harmless provision in a state or federal law; exempt the collection of copayment amounts, coinsurance amounts, deductible amounts, or amounts for uncovered services by health care providers from the provisions of the section; declare a violation of the section to be an unfair, false, misleading, or deceptive act or practice in violation of KRS 367.170 and subject to the remedies and powers of the Attorney General set forth in KRS 367.190 to 367.300; authorize civil recovery and attorney's fees and costs for the willful violation of the provisions of the section; require all statements sent to enrollees or insureds by a health care provider to contain conspicuous boldface language stating that the statement is not a bill and that the enrollee or insured is not responsible for any amounts covered by their health insurance company; prohibit the filing of a report by a health care provider with a credit reporting agency for nonpayment of amounts which the provider is prohibited under this section from charging; declare that any waiver of the billing prohibition of this section that is obtained by a health care provider is null and void.

     Mar 6-introduced in Senate
     Mar 11-to Health and Welfare (S)
     Mar 12-reassigned to Banking and Insurance (S)