Fierce Opposition From Hospitals Leaves California Surprise Medical Bill Legislation On Life Support

“We are going after a practice that has generated billions of dollars for hospitals, so this is high-level,” said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). “This certainly does not mean we’re done.” Chiu said he and his team would keep working on amendments to the bill that address the concerns of hospitals while maintaining protections for patients.

San Francisco Chronicle: Legislation To Stop Patients Getting Massive ER Bills Is On Life Support

The attempt by two San Francisco politicians to stop hospitals around California from sticking patients who receive emergency care with outrageous bills is on life support. Assemblyman David Chiu on Tuesday said he is holding back his bill that was inspired by news of San Francisco General Hospital’s unfair billing practices after intense lobbying from hospital CEOs around the state urging his colleagues to kill it. (Knight, 7/10)

The Associated Press: California Effort To Stop Surprise Hospital Bills Stalls

Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu said Wednesday that he’s pulling his bill for now due to staunch opposition from hospitals. Chiu plans to continue negotiations on the bill and try again next year. He says the bill faced opposition from hospitals trying to protect profits over patients. The California Hospital Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (7/10)

California Healthline: Hospitals Block ‘Surprise Billing’ Measure

Hospitals focused their opposition on a provision of the bill that would have limited what they can charge insurers for out-of-network emergency services, criticizing it as an unnecessary form of rate setting. (Ibarra, 7/10)

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