AB 1312: Hospital pricing.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires a hospital to provide patients with a written notice containing information about the availability of the hospital’s discount payment and charity care policies, including information about eligibility and the contact information for a hospital employee or office from which a person may obtain further information about these policies. Existing law defines “charity care” and “discount payment” for these purposes. Existing law requires a hospital to provide to the Department of Health Care Access and Information a copy of its discount payment policy, charity care policy, eligibility procedures for those policies, review process, and the application for charity care or discounted payment programs, among other information. A violation of these provisions results in an administrative penalty, as specified.

This bill would, commencing July 1, 2027, require a hospital to screen a patient to determine if they meet specific criteria, including that the patient is enrolled in CalFresh or CalWORKs, and, if they do, presumptively determine that a patient is eligible for participation under the hospital’s charity care policy and discount payment policy. The bill would require a hospital to screen a patient for eligibility if the patient meets other specified criteria, including, among others, that the patient is uninsured. The bill would prohibit a hospital from requiring a patient to apply for the federal Medicare program, the Medi-Cal program, or other coverage before the patient is screened for or provided with discounted payment, as specified. The bill would require a hospital to provide patients with the ability to opt out of the screening process through a specified form. The bill would authorize a hospital, at its discretion or as established in its charity care policy or discount payment policy, to make presumptive determinations of eligibility or to conduct screening for patients that do not meet the criteria described above. The bill would authorize certain procedures and tools for screening, including, among others, allowing a hospital to use third-party software tools or services or to contract with a third party under specified conditions. The bill would require a hospital to provide a specified written notice to those patients determined to be eligible, presumptively or otherwise, under these provisions and would prohibit any billing statements from being sent prior to the written notice. The bill would require the billing statements to reflect the adjustments made to the patient’s hospital charges under the hospital’s charity care policy or discount payment policy.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 7, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 450, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 7, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 16, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
4. September 9, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 62. Noes 16. Page 3123.).
5. September 8, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 27. Noes 8. Page 2625.).
7. September 4, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. September 3, 2025Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 29, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
11. August 18, 2025In committee: Referred to suspense file.
12. July 21, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.