Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes health care providers to enter into direct health care agreements with individuals.

Highlights:

• Authorizes health care providers to enter into a direct health care agreement with patients unless they are covered under previous legislation (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that each eligible health care provider must list the health care services provided and locations available in exchange for a periodic fee (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits health care providers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability status, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or any other characteristics of a person in a protected class in regards to direct healthcare arrangements (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that a health care provider may decline to enter into a direct health care agreement for the following reasons (Sec. 1): 

• It cannot treat a patient properly;and

• It does not have the capacity to provide for new patients. 

• Specifies that a healthcare provider may terminate a direct healthcare agreement only if they are unable to provide the care required for a patient (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that if the patient terminates the agreement within thirty days of signing then they must be provided a full refund (Sec. 1).. 

• Specifies that an agreement may be terminated based on the following patient actions (Sec. 1): 

• If a patient threatens providers safety; 

• If a patient engages in disrespectful, derogatory, or prejudiced behavior; and 

• A patient breaches the terms of an agreement.

Full Bill Text