(a) As used in this section, “hospital” includes hospitals as defined in § 68-11-201.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 68-11-220

  • Hospital: means any institution, place, building or agency represented and held out to the general public as ready, willing and able to furnish care, accommodations, facilities and equipment for the use, in connection with the services of a physician or dentist, of one (1) or more nonrelated persons who may be suffering from deformity, injury or disease or from any other condition for which nursing, medical or surgical services would be appropriate for care, diagnosis or treatment. See Tennessee Code 68-11-201
  • Patient: includes , but is not limited to, any person who is suffering from an acute or chronic illness or injury or who is crippled, convalescent or infirm, or who is in need of obstetrical, surgical, medical, nursing or supervisory care. See Tennessee Code 68-11-201
  • Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b)

(1) Within ten (10) days following discharge or release from confinement in a hospital, or within ten (10) days after the earliest date at which the expense from confinement or service may be determined, the hospital providing such services shall submit to the patient, or an authorized representative, a statement or billing containing the same charge or expense information required to be included on the uniform claim form pursuant to § 56-7-1008.
(2) This statement shall not include charges of hospital-based physicians if billed separately.
(c)

(1) Subsequent to the initial billing for services, the hospital shall, upon written request from the patient, an authorized representative, an insurance company, an employer, or other organization responsible for the reimbursement or payment of such services, provide a more detailed statement of specific services received and expenses incurred by the patient.
(2) The hospital shall be allowed thirty (30) days from the receipt of a request to provide the statement.
(3) All requests shall be made within one (1) year of discharge.