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Bill Would Help Those Without Health Insurance Pay For Care

DENVER (CBS4)- A bill moving forward in the state Legislature would help people without health insurance when they end up in the emergency room.

The bill would require hospitals to create a reasonable payment plan for uninsured patients with family incomes below the poverty level.

Policies for the uninsured would also have to be displayed clearly in waiting rooms and in various languages.

The measure would also require hospitals to offer a discounted rate to uninsured patients.

"One of the things having insurance does is it gets for you a negotiated rate. And the better your insurance, the bigger your insurance group, the better rate you get for services," said Sen. Irene Aguilar, a Democrat representing Denver.

Some hospitals claim the bill would force them to pick up expensive medical bills without being reimbursed.

The legislation heads to the full Senate March 2.

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