Prohibits hospitals and health care providers from storing credit card information without signed written consent and requires disclosure if such information could be used to pay balances.
Summary
S02393 would amend New York’s General Business Law to restrict how hospitals and health care providers handle patients’ credit card information. Under the bill, a hospital or provider could not keep a credit card on file unless the patient gives written consent in the form of a signature. At the time a patient pays with a credit card, the provider would also have to give written notice, in at least 12-point font, explaining whether the card information will be retained and whether it may be used to pay future balances on the account.
The bill is aimed at increasing transparency and patient control over payment information in medical settings. It does not ban credit card payments or automatic billing arrangements outright, but it requires affirmative consent before storing card data and clear disclosure about possible future charges. The act would take effect 90 days after becoming law, with any necessary implementing regulations authorized to be prepared in advance.
Impact
The bill would add a new subdivision to section 519-a of the General Business Law, creating a specific consumer-protection rule for hospitals and health care providers. It would require written, signed consent before storing a patient’s credit card on file and would impose a disclosure obligation about whether stored card information may be used to satisfy outstanding balances. Hospitals, clinics, physicians, and other covered providers would need to change billing and intake practices to ensure compliance, likely affecting patient registration forms, payment workflows, and account-balance collection procedures.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was broadly well received. It passed the Senate Consumer Protection Committee unanimously, 7-0, and later cleared the Senate floor by a wide margin, 55-1. That pattern indicates strong support for the bill’s consumer-protection and patient-notice goals, with only minimal opposition at the floor stage.
Contention
The main policy issue is the balance between patient privacy and provider billing flexibility. Supporters appear to favor requiring explicit consent before retaining payment information and clearer notice about future use of a card on file, especially in medical billing contexts where patients may not expect recurring charges. Any opposition likely centers on administrative burden for providers, potential friction in collecting unpaid balances, and the added paperwork and workflow changes needed to obtain and document written consent. The near-unanimous committee vote suggests these concerns did not generate significant resistance in the legislative process.
Same As
Prohibits hospitals and health care providers from storing credit card information without signed written consent and requires disclosure if such information could be used to pay balances.
Prohibits hospitals and health care providers from storing credit card information without signed written consent and requires disclosure if such information could be used to pay balances.
Requires hospitals to obtain verbal and written informed consent from a patient or representative before including such patient's information in a general hospital facility directory.
Requires hospitals to obtain verbal and written informed consent from a patient or representative before including such patient's information in a general hospital facility directory.
Provides additional protections for sensitive health information; requires all health information networks, electronic health record systems, and health care providers to provide patients with a right to restrict the disclosures of such patient's health information; defines terms; provides for exceptions.
Provides additional protections for sensitive health information; requires all health information networks, electronic health record systems, and health care providers to provide patients with a right to restrict the disclosures of such patient's health information; defines terms; provides for exceptions.
Directs the department of health to create an informational pamphlet concerning intrauterine devices; requires such informational pamphlet to be available on the department of health's website; requires practitioners to distribute such informational pamphlet to patients seeking contraceptives.
Directs the department of health to create an informational pamphlet concerning intrauterine devices; requires such informational pamphlet to be available on the department of health's website; requires practitioners to distribute such informational pamphlet to patients seeking contraceptives.