LRB-4005/1
SWB:klm
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
March 12, 2018 - Introduced by Representatives Anderson, Neubauer, Berceau,
Zamarripa, Sargent, Subeck, Brostoff, Pope and Spreitzer, cosponsored by
Senators Carpenter, Vinehout and Risser. Referred to Committee on Health.
AB1012,1,2
1An Act to create 146.902 of the statutes;
relating to: requiring publication of
2hospital chargemasters and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires each hospital to file a copy of its chargemasters with the
Department of Health Services on an annual basis. The bill defines the term
“chargemaster” as “a uniform schedule of charges represented by the hospital as its
gross billed charge for a given service or item, regardless of payer type.” Under the
bill, hospitals must also make a written or electronic copy of the chargemaster
available, either by posting an electronic copy of the chargemaster on the hospital
Internet site or by making a written or electronic copy available at the hospital
location. In addition, hospitals must post a notice in the emergency department, if
any, in the admissions office, and in the billing office, informing patients about the
availability of the hospital's chargemaster. Finally, the bill imposes a forfeiture of
$100 for each day a hospital violates these requirements.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB1012,1
3Section
1. 146.902 of the statutes is created to read:
AB1012,1,4
4146.902 Hospital chargemaster publication. (1) In this section:
AB1012,2,2
1(a) “Chargemaster” means a uniform schedule of charges represented by the
2hospital as its gross billed charge for a given service or item, regardless of payer type.
AB1012,2,33
(b) “Hospital” has the meaning given in s. 50.33 (2).
AB1012,2,44
(c) “Patient” has the meaning given in s. 146.81 (3).
AB1012,2,6
5(2) Beginning July 1, 2018, each hospital shall file a copy of its chargemaster
6annually with the department, in a format determined by the department.
AB1012,2,10
7(3) Beginning July 1, 2018, each hospital shall make a written or electronic
8copy of its chargemaster available, either by posting an electronic copy of the
9chargemaster on the hospital's Internet site, or by making one written or electronic
10copy available at the hospital location.
AB1012,2,14
11(4) Each hospital shall post a clear and conspicuous notice in its emergency
12department, if any, in its admissions office, and in its billing office that informs
13patients that the hospital's chargemaster is available in the manner described in
14sub. (3).
AB1012,2,16
15(5) Any hospital that violates sub. (2), (3), or (4) shall be subject to a forfeiture
16of $100 for each violation, with each day of violation constituting a separate offense.
