WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

JOINT RESOLUTIONS SIGNED
by the
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
and the
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

No. 1

(Senate Joint Resolution No. 3)

A Senate Joint Resolution concerning

Hospitals - Simplified and Understandable Medical Billing

FOR the purpose of requesting the Governor to establish a
committee to study ways in which hospitals could institute
simplified and understandable billing techniques and improve
procedures for justifying charges contained in hospital
bills.

WHEREAS, People who receive bills from hospitals are
experiencing continuing difficulty and confusion in understanding
the charges for which hospitals are billing them; and

WHEREAS, Hospitals should make greater efforts to inform the
public generally and the elderly in particular of what hospital
bills contain; and

WHEREAS, Hospitals should improve procedures for justifying
charges contained in hospital bills; and

WHEREAS, The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission
has adopted a uniform billing procedure for all hospitals in
Maryland that is similar to the way the federal government bills
for Medicare and Medicaid patients, but does not provide needed
consumer education; and

WHEREAS, There should be an elimination of double billings,
nonitemized bills, and other overcharges and handling fees; and

WHEREAS, These issues are of such a magnitude for the public
generally and the elderly in particular that a committee of
knowledgeable persons should study and recommend ways to solve
these issues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Governor is requested to establish a committee to study ways
that hospitals could institute simplified and understandable
medical billing techniques and improve procedures for justifying
charges contained in hospital bills; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee be composed of:

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