H4619
An Act to protect health care consumers from surprise billing
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to shield Massachusetts residents from unexpected, high medical bills that often occur when they receive care from out-of-network providers. It seeks to establish a process for determining fair payment amounts in these situations, primarily focusing on patients who did not choose their providers. The bill intends to provide greater transparency and protection for consumers facing surprise medical bills, particularly in emergency and certain planned procedures.
Key provisions
- Establishes a process for determining fair payment amounts for out-of-network providers.
- Prioritizes patient protection in surprise billing situations.
- Specifies how payment amounts should be calculated, potentially involving a median in-network rate.
- Addresses surprise billing in emergency services and certain planned procedures.
- Requires hospitals and insurance companies to provide clear billing information to patients.
Who is affected
- Healthcare consumers in Massachusetts
- Hospitals
- Insurance companies
- Out-of-network providers
Notable changes
- The bill aims to address a growing concern about surprise medical bills, which can lead to significant debt for patients.
- It seeks to align payment practices with in-network rates, offering a more predictable cost structure for consumers.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Cosponsor
Paul J. Donato
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.4619 194th (Current)
An Act to protect health care consumers from surprise billing
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Financial Services Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
Tabs
Bill History Cosponsors Committee Vote Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 5 actions for Bill H.4619
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 10/20/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on Financial Services |
| 10/20/2025 | House | New draft of H1144 |
| 10/20/2025 | House | Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing |
| 12/8/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 3/19/2026 | House | Reporting date extended to Monday, June 15, 2026 |
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