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Schwarzenegger to decide on hospital bill

A nationwide review by Senate investigators finds non-profit hospitals often charge the uninsured more than people with health coverage. A bill that would prohibit that practice in California is await

Schwarzenegger to decide on hospital bill

A nationwide review by Senate investigators finds non-profit hospitals often charge the uninsured more than people with health coverage. A bill that would prohibit that practice in California is awaiting a decision by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.

The bill would forbid hospitals from charging uninsured patients more than the rate Medicare or Medi-Cal pays. In addition, the measure would require hospitals to provide patients information about their consumer rights and payment options.

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Ann O’Rourke is with the California Hospital Association. She questions whether the bill makes sense.

O'Rourke: Should we look at what hospitals already are doing before we overzealously legislate? And I think there is a reasonable body of work out there that demonstrates the community benefit not-for-profit hospitals provide.        

Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar measure regarding hospital practices in 2004. There’s no word on whether he’ll sign this year’s version.

Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.