RC 470 — Resolution directing an exhaustiva investigation into health care for nonresident visitors in Puerto Rico
Original Spanish title: “Para ordenar a la Comisión de Salud y a la Comisión de Turismo de la Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico a realizar una investigación exhaustiva para cuantificar las atenciones médicas brindadas a los visitantes no residentes de la Isla en los centros hospitalarios o de salud y el monto de los servicios prestados que no han podido ser recuperados; evaluar mecanismos de cobro de dinero por servicios médicos prestados y no pagados para mantener la solvencia de las instituciones de salud; analizar la viabilidad de esquemas de seguro temporero para visitantes; y delimitar las acciones regulatorias posibles en Puerto Rico sin invadir competencias federales; identificar otras alternativas de política pública orientadas a mitigar el impacto económico ante la falta de pago a los hospitales y centros de salud; y para otros fines relacionados.”
Overview
- Bill Number: RC 470
- Classification: Resolution (not a bill to become law)
- Introduced: October 6, 2025
- Status: Referido a commissions (Health and Tourism, and potentially others)
- Legislative actions: First Reading on October 7, 2025; referred to commissions on October 7, 2025; filed on October 6, 2025
Purpose and intent
- The resolution directs the Puerto Rico House of Representatives’ Health Commission and Tourism Commission to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into how health care is provided to nonresident visitors (tourists) in Puerto Rico’s hospitals and health facilities.
- It seeks to quantify:
- The volume and nature of medical care provided to nonresident visitors.
- The portion of services for which payment has not been recovered.
- It aims to produce policy options to address financial impacts on health institutions and to safeguard their solvency.
Key provisions and areas of inquiry
- Quantification of care and unrecovered charges:
- Systematic data collection on medical services delivered to nonresident visitors.
- Estimation of unpaid or unrecoverable bills associated with these services.
- Revenue collection mechanisms:
- Evaluation of existing and potential methods to bill and collect payments for services rendered to visitors, including administrative and financial tools.
- Insurance and payment schemes:
- Analysis of the feasibility of temporary visitor insurance programs to cover medical costs during visits.
- Regulatory scope and federal boundaries:
- Delimitation of regulatory actions Puerto Rico can pursue without infringing on federal authority or preemption issues.
- Policy alternatives:
- Identification of additional public policy options to mitigate economic impact on hospitals and health centers from nonpayment by visitors.
- Purpose alignment:
- All inquiries to be conducted in the context of protecting health system solvency and ensuring access to care while respecting jurisdictional boundaries.
Potential impact and considerations
- Data-driven policy guidance: The investigation could yield detailed metrics on the financial exposure of hospitals due to nonresident care and inform targeted policy responses.
- Hospital solvency and billing practices: Findings may influence how institutions manage charges to visitors and negotiate payments.
- Consumer and insurer implications: Exploration of temporary visitor insurance schemes could affect tourists, insurers, and healthcare providers.
- Regulatory action: Any proposed actions would be framed to respect federal authority, reducing risk of preemption conflicts.
- Timeline: As a resolution directing investigation, it does not set a binding regulatory change by itself; outcomes would depend on committee work, hearings, and potential legislative proposals subsequent to the inquiry.
Next steps
- Committees will likely organize hearings, request data from hospitals and health centers, consult stakeholders (hospitals, insurers, tourism industry, consumer groups), and prepare an investigative report with recommendations. Further legislative action would depend on committee findings.
