It was probably hospitals that don't get paid that are pushing for it.

My dad, who is an ER doctor, tells me that people come in after emergencies that don't have health insurance. Then, they can't afford the bill. The hospital can't just not treat people who are dying, so they lose money.

This seems more humane than what they do in Texas, although still somewhat misguided. In Texas, they can deny treatment to people, even if they're dying, courtesy of ex-Governor Bush. They can also unplug babies from the ICU if the parents can't afford it.