Connecticut Senate Bill SB00208

Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/21
• Refer: 1/22/21

Caption

An Act Requiring Site-neutral Reimbursements For Certain Covered Health Insurance Benefits.

Impact

The enactment of SB00208 is anticipated to have a significant impact on state laws governing health insurance practices. By enforcing site-neutral reimbursements, the bill seeks to eliminate discrepancies in payment rates based on the location of service, fostering a more consistent and fair reimbursement landscape for health care providers. This modification could encourage more providers to offer services based on patient needs rather than reimbursement rates determined by service location, thus potentially enhancing patient accessibility to necessary treatments.

Summary

SB00208, known as An Act Requiring Site-neutral Reimbursements For Certain Covered Health Insurance Benefits, proposes to amend the relevant state statutes by mandating health insurers to provide site-neutral reimbursements for specific health insurance benefits. This includes coverage for infusions and health care services that utilize current procedural terminology evaluation and management (CPT E/M) codes, as well as assessment and management (CPT A/M) codes. The goal of this bill is to standardize reimbursement levels across various service locations to ensure equitable coverage for patients, regardless of where the services are provided.

Contention

Discussion surrounding SB00208 has revealed several points of contention. Supporters argue that the bill will reduce financial burdens on patients who may face higher costs depending on where they receive care. They advocate that site-neutral reimbursement rates could improve healthcare equity and reduce unnecessary costs. However, some opponents of the bill express concerns regarding the financial viability for certain providers who may rely on location-based reimbursement structures to remain economically sustainable. This apprehension raises questions about the future dynamics of health service availability and provider compensation structures.