AN ACT PROHIBITING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND CLINICAL LABORATORIES FROM IMPOSING OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES BASED ON ESTIMATES OF CHARGES.

HB 5172 prohibits healthcare providers and clinical laboratories from requiring insured patients to pay coinsurance, copayments, or deductibles at the time of service based on estimated charges. Instead, such out-of-pocket costs must be based solely on the final amount listed in the actual medical bill for the service. The bill directly affects patients receiving insured healthcare services by preventing unexpected upfront payments tied to preliminary estimates. It requires providers to wait for the finalized bill before collecting these costs, aiming to reduce surprise medical bills.