Rep. Lynn Luker (R-Boise) of Idaho has proposed a bill to limit state-funded medical procedures for patients who don't pay their medical bills, according to an Idaho Reporter report.
The bill would prevent the state from funding non-emergency medical procedures, leaving the tab with the county or the facility. Current regulations require counties to pay the first $11,000 in unpaid medical bills before the responsibility is shifted to the state government. Rep. Luker has said the bill could save at least $4 million annually from a strapped state budget.
The Idaho Hospital Association has "flatly opposed" the measure, according to the report, saying the bill could drastically increase unpaid bills if state funding is cut for certain medical procedures.
Read the Idaho Reporter report on non-emergency medical procedure funding.
Read more on coding, billing and collections:
-Out-of-Network Payments Falling to Medicare Levels in Some States
-2011 CPT Changes to the Integumentary System
-Guidance for Properly Reporting Modifier -33
The bill would prevent the state from funding non-emergency medical procedures, leaving the tab with the county or the facility. Current regulations require counties to pay the first $11,000 in unpaid medical bills before the responsibility is shifted to the state government. Rep. Luker has said the bill could save at least $4 million annually from a strapped state budget.
The Idaho Hospital Association has "flatly opposed" the measure, according to the report, saying the bill could drastically increase unpaid bills if state funding is cut for certain medical procedures.
Read the Idaho Reporter report on non-emergency medical procedure funding.
Read more on coding, billing and collections:
-Out-of-Network Payments Falling to Medicare Levels in Some States
-2011 CPT Changes to the Integumentary System
-Guidance for Properly Reporting Modifier -33