Governor signs law to help consumers with medical billing

Published: Wed, 09/04/13

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Medical Coding News

Hi ,

Gov. Pat McCrory signed legislation into law Wednesday that he said
will help North Carolina consumers make better health care
decisions and aid his administration in running state government
more efficiently.

The bill, one of more than 30 left on his desk this week after
lawmakers adjourned late last month, addresses both hospital
billing procedures and changes to state employee personnel rules.

The health care billing standards, which had been in a stand-alone
measure until it was attached to the state personnel bill late in
the session, requires hospitals statewide to report the amount
charged for the 100 most frequent reasons for admissions.

Hospital and same-day surgery centers also must provide to state
regulators similar information on 40 common surgical and imaging
procedures, including the average negotiated cost for uninsured
patients, Medicaid or Medicare reimbursement rate and what leading
health insurers pay. The Department of Health and Human Services
will put the data on its web site.

"For too long, North Carolina patients have been in the dark on
what they can expect to pay for common medical procedures when they
are admitted to a hospital," McCrory said in a statement. "This new
law gives patients and their doctors pricing information so they
can make an informed financial decision with regard to their health
care."

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