House lawmakers in Washington state passed legislation this week to end the practice of balance billing, according to a State of Reform report.
Here are four things to know about the legislation.
1. The measure, HB 2114, passed in the House overwhelmingly with a vote of 81-17, according to the report.
2. As it is written, the new legislation would ensure a patient who goes to an in-network hospital for emergency or non-emergency healthcare services would not be billed at an out-of-network rate, State of Reform reports.
3. The report states HB 2114 would also provide more transparency for patients as far as which providers are in-network, and "establish thresholds for an arbitration process when insurers and providers disagree on payment."
4. The legislation now moves to the state Senate.
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