Emergency ground medical transportation.
With the passage of AB 1107, there will be significant changes to existing laws under the Health and Safety Code and the Insurance Code. The bill modifies the requirements for health care service plans and health insurance policies, compelling them to streamline coverage processes for patients who require emergency ground medical transport. This aligns with the state's long-term goal of increasing access to necessary medical services while reducing out-of-pocket expenses for patients in critical situations. The law aims to eliminate barriers that could deter individuals from seeking timely medical assistance due to cost concerns.
Assembly Bill 1107, introduced by Assembly Member Boerner Horvath, aims to enhance health care coverage by ensuring that emergency ground medical transportation services are classified as in-network services within health care service plans and insurance policies. Effective from January 1, 2022, the bill mandates that all contracts or policies issued, amended, or renewed after this date must include these transportation services and pay them at previously contracted rates. This legislative action is intended to provide clear benefits to patients needing urgent medical transport, ensuring they are not subject to additional unexpected costs during emergencies.
One notable point of contention surrounding AB 1107 involves the potential financial implications for health insurers and healthcare service plans. Critics may argue that mandating in-network status for emergency ground medical transportation can significantly increase operational costs for these entities, possibly leading to higher premiums for consumers. Furthermore, since the bill imposes penalties for willful violations, there are concerns about how this could impact provider participation in emergency transport networks and the overall sustainability of such coverage mandates.