HB2054

The legislature finds that consumers are attempting to learn more about their health. Last year, some 113 million people used the Internet to get health information. Each day, eight million people are doing their own research on diets, medical conditions, diseases, treatment options, and in some cases, the performance of hospitals and doctors.

The legislature also finds that in an era of more sophisticated means and information-savvy consumers, simple questions regarding the price of medical procedures and services are difficult to obtain. In an increasingly consumer-driven medical market, transparency about price for services is crucial to empowering consumers in making intelligent decisions about their health.

The purpose of this Act is to mandate the progressive disclosure of prices of medical services and procedures.

SECTION 2. As a condition of licensure under chapters 453 and 455 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, and as a condition for licensure as a health care facility as defined in chapter 323D, prices for the following medical procedures and services shall be disclosed and displayed by those holding licenses under chapters 453 and 455 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes:

(1) Office visit for physical examination;

(2) Tonsillectomy;

(3) Arthroscopy medial meniscectomy;

(4) Cysto ureteroscopy lithotripsy, either with or without the use of a laser; and

(5) Mass excisions.

SECTION 3. As a condition of licensure under chapters 453 and 455 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, and as a condition for licensure as a health care facility as defined in chapter 323D, prices for the following medical procedures and services shall be disclosed and displayed by those holding licenses under chapters 453 and 455 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes:

(1) Overnight stay at the health care facility;

(2) Blood testing;

(3) Appendectomy;

(4) Caesarian section;

(5) Cataract extraction;

(6) Laparoscopy cholecystectomy;

(7) Carpal tunnel release; and

(8) Iliac or femoral angioplasty, with or without a stent.

SECTION 4. As a condition of licensure under chapters 453 and 455 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, and as a condition for licensure as a health care facility as defined in chapter 323D, all prices for medical procedures and services performed by those holding licenses under chapters 453 and 455 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes shall be disclosed and displayed.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2009, provided that section 3 shall take effect on January 1, 2010, and section 4 shall take effect on January 1, 2011.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2054
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII