Bermuda Hospitals Board Amendment Act 2024

What this bill does

This bill requires the Bermuda Hospitals Board to publish all their fees and charges online instead of just keeping them in paper documents. It also creates clearer rules about what medical and dental practitioners can charge patients at the hospital, and ensures these hospital fee rules take priority over other conflicting laws.

If passed (voted YES)

• Hospital fees and charges will be published on the Bermuda Hospitals Board and Bermuda Health Council websites, making costs transparent and easily accessible to the public
• Doctors and dentists working at the hospital must stick to set fee schedules and cannot charge more than the official rates
• Insurance companies must reimburse at least the official fee amounts if the treatment is covered in a patient's policy

If rejected (voted NO)

• Hospital fees and charges will continue to only be available in paper form at hospital and health council offices, making them harder for the public to access
• The current less specific rules about medical fees will remain in place
• There will be no clear legal priority given to hospital fee regulations over other potentially conflicting laws

Who it affects

This primarily affects anyone who receives medical treatment at Bermuda's hospitals, as well as doctors, dentists, and insurance companies operating in Bermuda's healthcare system.