South CarolinaHealthcare facilities must offer patients itemized bills starting in 2027
Beginning January 1, 2027, covered healthcare facilities must offer patients electronic itemized bills and provide written copies upon request.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, covered healthcare facilities must offer electronic itemized bills and provide written copies when patients request them. Patients may later request a bill even after waiving one.
Itemized bills must use plain language and show the patient's claimed balance, including the patient's responsibility after insurance or other third-party reimbursement. Licensing authorities must discipline violations.
Argument forClear service descriptions and payment amounts could help patients check bills and understand what they may owe before paying.
Argument againstFacilities may need to change billing systems, notices, and patient portals to meet the new formatting and delivery requirements.
More detail
Healthcare facilities must provide patients an electronic itemized bill when seeking payment and a written copy when the patient asks for one. This covers listed facilities such as hospitals, surgical centers, hospice facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and substance-use treatment facilities. Facilities must clearly tell patients that electronic and written itemized bills are available and let patients choose a preferred format. Patients may waive an itemized bill at first, but they must still be allowed to request one later. The bill covers services and related supplies provided during the patient's visit. The requirement applies beginning January 1, 2027. The act itself takes effect June 30, 2026.
Healthcare facilities must include plain-language service descriptions and patient payment amounts on itemized bills, while licensing authorities must discipline violations. The bill applies to itemized bills for healthcare services and supplies, including bills that reflect a patient's responsibility after third-party reimbursement. Bills must show the amount the facility says the patient owes. When a third party paid or was billed, bills must show the patient's responsibility stated in the third party's electronic remittance advice. Facilities may send bills electronically, including through a patient portal. A licensing authority must treat a violation as a licensing-law violation for discipline. These bill-content and enforcement rules apply under the section beginning January 1, 2027, when the patient-billing duties begin.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 1Act No. 253Latest
- Jul 1Effective date 06/30/26
- Jun 30Signed By Governor Henry McMasterBecame Law
- Jun 29Ratified R 270
- Jun 25Ordered enrolled for ratificationTo Governor
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Report. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded to adopt the conference report. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 25Roll call Ayes-38 Nays-0
- Jun 25Conference report received and adopted
- Jun 25Roll call Yeas-103 Nays-0
- Jun 25Conference report received and adopted
- May 14Conference committee appointed Cash, Garrett, Ott
- Vote recorded Adopt Amendment 1a. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. Davis, Sessions, Waters
- May 14Non-concurrence in House amendment
- May 14Roll call Yeas-113 Nays-0
- May 14Returned to Senate with amendments
- May 14Senate amendment amendedMinor
- May 12Read third time and returned to House with amendmentsPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 8Scrivener's error corrected
- May 7Roll call Ayes-46 Nays-0
- Vote recorded 2nd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 7Read second timeMinor
- May 7AmendedMajor
- May 7Committee Amendment AdoptedMajor
- Apr 30Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical AffairsMinor
- 2025
- Mar 26Referred to Committee on Medical AffairsMinor
- Mar 26Introduced and read first timeMinor
- Mar 26Read third time and sent to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 25Roll call Yeas-116 Nays-0
- Vote recorded Passage of Bill. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Read second timeMinor
- Mar 25AmendedMajor
- Mar 25Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Wickensimer
- Mar 20Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal AffairsMinor
- Mar 4Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Magnuson
- Feb 20Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal AffairsMinor
- Feb 20Introduced and read first timeIntroduced
HealthcareConsumer ProtectionMental Health