South Carolina has new “Patient-Friendly Billing Act”
One of the questions I hear often from residents here on Hilton Head —especially seniors—isn’t about politics at all. It’s about healthcare – especially hospital and doctor’s invoices.
Hopefully, that will happen much less often beginning in January 2027, when our new “Patient Friendly Billing Act” takes effect.
I have heard more than a few stories from friends who have opened an envelope from a hospital only to find a balance due with little explanation of what we were actually being charged for.
Sometimes multiple bills arrive from different providers for the same procedure. Other times, a bill shows up before insurance has even finished processing the claim. It can be frustrating, confusing, and stressful.
Patient-Friendly Billing Act
During the final months of our most recent legislative session, the General Assembly took an important step to make hospital and physician bills more transparent by passing H.4069, the Patient-Friendly Billing Act.
It was submitted by one of my colleagues, Republican Heath Sessions of Dorchester County, and passed unanimously by both Republicans and Democrats. The intent is to help patients better understand what they are being asked to pay.
Under the new law, healthcare providers must make billing more transparent by providing clear, itemized information that distinguishes the provider’s charges, insurance payments, and the patient’s financial responsibility. It also gives patients the right to request detailed itemized statements so they can review charges and ask questions before paying.
South Carolina and a majority of other states, there have not been consistent standards to ensure patients receive this level of clarity.
Anyone who has dealt with today’s healthcare system knows that one visit can generate separate bills from a hospital, physician, laboratory, radiologist, anesthesiologist, or other specialists. Trying to sort through those bills can be more than difficult.
Greater transparency helps everyone.
No law is perfect. Some healthcare providers will have to update their billing systems and follow additional procedures to comply with the new requirements. Those changes may involve some administrative costs. However, I believe those costs are outweighed by the benefits of giving South Carolinians greater confidence that they understand the medical bills they receive.
One aspect of this legislation I particularly appreciate is that it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Consumer transparency is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It is simply good government.
When we can make government work better for the people we serve, we should do so regardless of party.
My SC House District 123 (largely made up of Hilton Head Island itself) is home to one of the oldest populations in South Carolina – average 59 years of age compared to the rest of the state, 39 years.
Many of us rely on Medicare, supplemental insurance, or even fixed retirement incomes. I believe we deserve billing practices that are straightforward, understandable, and fair.
Jeff Bradley is the representative for District 123 in the State House of Representatives.
