New state law protects patients from excessive hospital emergency room charges

Posted: Oct 17, 2019 / 05:42 PM EDT / Updated: Oct 17, 2019 / 05:42 PM EDT

NEW YORK STATE (WSYR-TV) — Easing the financial stress of emergency room visits, a new state law protects patients from excessive out-of-network hospital emergency charges.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation, saying the new law includes hospital inpatient services that follow an emergency room visit.

The new law requires health insurance companies to ensure when enrollees receive care from a non-participating provider, the patient will not be billed greater out-of-pocket costs than they would have incurred from a participating provider. The law goes into effect immediately.

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