Bill expands hospital charity care
Senate Bill 13 creates a more robust standard for hospitals to provide charity care to patients, regardless of insurance coverage. Under the law, which will take effect next year, Delaware patients could get a discount on their bills if they meet certain income limits.
State Sen. Marie Pinkney, D-Bear, said she hopes the legislation will help people facing a catastrophic hospital bill.
“We are making sure that everyday Delawareans who are just trying to stay on the stability that they have built for themselves and their family will be protected,” she said. “Once they build themselves a foundation, it doesn’t get knocked from underneath them because of one medical emergency.”
Legislation caps hospital prices
Senate Bill 1 mandates increased investment in primary care, establishes new requirements for health insurers, hospitals and public employee health plans and sets a reimbursement ceiling.
The original version of the bill introduced reference-based pricing and would cap rates at 250% of what the federal government pays providers through Medicare.
Hospitals opposed the original version, and the sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, toned down some of the most controversial provisions before bringing it for a vote.
The changes delayed the implementation of price caps for hospital procedures until 2029, and they are being phased in, so they won’t be completely scaled down to 250% of Medicare until 2033.
Townsend said he disputes criticism from some that the bill had been “gutted.” He said that while some parts will take a few years to implement, other parts, like strengthening primary care access, will take effect immediately.
“It puts very serious cost containment measures in place and diverts resources that are desperately needed for primary care,” he said.