HB557 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rod Scott

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Health, create Health Care Foundation powers and duties, Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Act

Description

Currently the counties of this state are not designated as the responsible agency for health care transportation, hospital care, or providing of health care to indigent patients domiciled in that county for a certain period of time.

This bill would provide that each county of this state would be the responsible agency for health care transportation, hospital care, or primary health care provider to indigent patients domiciled in that county for a certain period of time.

This bill would prohibit payments to a hospital or primary health care provider from the funds designated solely for the working poor or indigent for services, unless the hospital or primary health care provider is an approved provider.

This bill would prohibit an action for collection against an indigent patient or the person who is legally responsible for the care of the indigent or working patient who is Medicaid eligible for Medicaid covered services, nor shall an action be allowed against the person during the time that person is Medicaid eligible.

This bill would create a County Indigent Health Care Board and provide for its powers and duties.

This bill would require each board to file an indigent health care report.

This bill would create a statewide Working Poor and Indigent Fund and provide for the disbursement of the proceeds in the fund.

This bill would create a County Indigent Hospital Claims Fund and provide for the disbursement of the proceeds in the fund.

This bill would require the board to annually certify the amount needed for indigent health care to the county commission.

This bill would, subject to approval of the residents of the county, levy an additional fee or tax from any source for indigent health care.

This bill would provide for subrogation of claims.

This bill would require each health care transportation service, hospital, or primary health care provider to file a report with the board containing certain information.

This bill would provide the procedure for payment of claims to medical providers.

This bill would provide the procedure for a hospital or health care transportation service aggrieved by any decision of the board to file an appeal.

This bill would provide for the duties of each county in regard to sole community provider hospital payments.

This bill would allow the board to recover costs and provide a presumption of payment.

This bill would provide a limitation on liens filed by the board.

This bill would prohibit the Alabama Department of Human Resources from decreasing the amount of any assistance payments made to the hospitals or health care providers of this state pursuant to law because of any financial reimbursement made to health care transportation services, hospitals, or primary care providers for indigent or Medicaid eligible patients.

This bill would provide criminal penalties for a violation of this act.

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment.

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Subjects

Health