H.B. 479

1

HEALTH CARE PATIENT IDENTITY
2 PROTECTIONS
3 2008 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Stephen E. Sandstrom
6 Senate Sponsor: Carlene M. Walker
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill amends the facility licensing provisions for general acute hospitals.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . requires a general acute hospital to request identification from a patient prior to
14 providing services;
15 . prohibits a hospital from denying services to an individual on the basis that the
16 individual does not provide identification when requested; and
17 . prohibits the imposition of penalties if a hospital does not request documentation.
18 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 ENACTS:
24 26-21-24, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25
26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 26-21-24 is enacted to read:

28 26-21-24. Patient identity protection.
29 (1) (a) In order to discourage identity theft and health insurance fraud, a general acute
30 hospital shall request identification from an individual prior to providing in-patient or
31 out-patient services to the individual.
32 (b) If the individual who will receive services from the general acute hospital is a
33 minor under the age of 18 who is not permitted by law to consent to treatment, the general
34 acute hospital shall request identification from the individual who is consenting to treatment on
35 behalf of the minor.
36 (2) A hospital:
37 (a) may not refuse services to an individual on the basis that the individual did not
38 provide identification when requested;
39 (b) may not be penalized for failing to ask for identification; and
40 (c) is not subject to a private right of action for failing to ask for identification.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-21-08 8:42 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel