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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="19-350" title_number="19" title_name="Health Care Facilities" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Hospitals and Related Institutions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This section applies only to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Related institutions as defined in § 19–301 of this subtitle; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Hospitals as defined in § 19–301 of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Nothing in this section shall apply to charges for services that are set pursuant to § 16–201 of this article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>On request of a patient made before or during treatment, a hospital shall provide to the patient a written estimate of the total charges for the hospital services, procedures, and supplies that reasonably are expected to be provided and billed to the patient by the hospital.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The written estimate shall state clearly that it is only an estimate and actual charges could vary.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A hospital may restrict the availability of a written estimate to normal business office hours.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>This paragraph does not apply to emergency services.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Within 30 days after discharge of an individual from a hospital, the hospital shall give the individual a summary financial statement that clearly describes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The total charges incurred;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If readily ascertainable, a summary of the total charges under the major services categories, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Room and board;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Diagnostic services;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Therapeutic services;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Emergency room services;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>Drugs and IV solutions; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>Miscellaneous other supplies and services;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>If applicable, the name of the primary and secondary insurer to which a claim has been or will be filed on the individual’s behalf;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>That charges for services provided by a physician are not included in the total hospital charges and are billed separately; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>The individual’s right to request an itemized statement of the account within 1 year of receipt of the summary statement.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Within 30 days after an individual’s request as provided under paragraph (2)(v) of this subsection, the hospital shall provide the individual a statement of the account that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is itemized; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Describes briefly but clearly each item and the amount charged for it.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Unless a related institution contracts with its residents to provide care for an all–inclusive preestablished fee, on demand made within 90 days after service is provided to a resident, the related institution shall give the resident or representative of the resident a financial statement that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is itemized;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Describes briefly but clearly each item and the amount charged for it; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Identifies the payor to whom a claim has been forwarded.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A related institution may not be required to give a resident more than 1 itemized statement in any 90–day period.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On demand made within 30 days after payment of any charge for an individual, a hospital or related institution shall give the individual or representative of the individual a financial statement that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is itemized; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Describes briefly but clearly each item and the amount charged for it.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A hospital or related institution is subject to a fine of $300 if it fails to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Comply with this subsection; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Give the individual or representative a reasonable written explanation for any delay in complying with this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A hospital or related institution may not demand or accept final payment or recover for money unless the hospital or related institution has given the financial statements required under this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
