AB 1312 (Schiavo, D-Santa Clarita)

AB 1312 would require hospitals to automatically presume eligibility for financial assistance prior to discharge for patients experiencing homelessness or enrolled in government assistance programs like CalFresh or CalWORKs. Hospitals must also prescreen patients for financial assistance if they are uninsured, enrolled in or eligible for Medi-Cal, and expected to owe more than $500 after insurance adjustments. Any presumptive eligibility or prescreening discount must be reflected on the patient’s billing statement. By July 1, 2026, hospitals would be required to implement a written prescreening process and disclose any third-party software tools used for prescreening. If a patient was approved for financial assistance within the past 12 months, hospitals would have to apply the discount without requiring further assessment before billing. Additionally, hospitals would have to provide written notice of determination for patients found presumptively eligible for charity care or discounted payment under this section. CHA continues to engage with the author and sponsors on amendments to better align the bill with existing hospital workflows, preserve the ability for hospitals to verify income, and use an application process in making financial assistance determinations.

Assembly Health Committee Oppose Unless Amended Letter

Assembly Appropriations Committee Oppose Unless Amended Letter

Assembly Floor Alert in Opposition