Hospital pricing.

Assembly Member Schiavo's hospital pricing legislation requires California hospitals to implement automated prescreening systems that proactively evaluate patients' eligibility for charity care and discounted payment programs before discharge. The measure establishes specific criteria requiring hospitals to prescreen patients who are uninsured, enrolled in Medi-Cal or Covered California plans with incomes below 400% of the federal poverty level, participating in public assistance programs like CalFresh or CalWORKs, experiencing homelessness, or facing hospital bills over $500 after insurance.

Under the bill's provisions, hospitals must document their prescreening methodology, which can incorporate existing patient records, registration information, and third-party eligibility verification tools. The prescreening process must be completed prior to discharge, with any resulting payment adjustments applied before billing statements are issued. Hospitals must notify patients in writing of prescreening results within five business days and inform those found ineligible that they may still apply directly for financial assistance programs.

The measure includes safeguards to protect patient interests - prescreening cannot negatively impact credit scores or prevent patients from separately applying for assistance programs. Rural hospitals retain flexibility to set eligibility thresholds below 400% of the federal poverty level to maintain financial stability. The Department of Health Care Access and Information would oversee implementation and could designate additional assistance programs that trigger mandatory prescreening. Hospitals must implement compliant prescreening systems by July 1, 2026.