Abramson (HB 601) Act No. 555
New law prohibits a healthcare provider that accepts a patient's health insurance coverage
from requiring an enrollee or insured to consent to payment for health care services as a
condition for verification of health insurance coverage for such health care services.
New law further provides that any provision in an agreement between a provider of
healthcare services and a health insurance issuer that conflicts with new law shall be deemed
null and void.
New law defines the following terms:
(1)"Health care services" means services, items, supplies, or drugs for the diagnosis,
prevention, treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease.
(2)"Health insurance coverage" means benefits consisting of medical care provided or
arranged for directly, through insurance or reimbursement, or otherwise, and includes
health care services paid for under any plan, policy, or certificate of insurance.
(3)"Health insurance issuer" means any entity that offers health insurance coverage
through a policy or certificate of insurance subject to existing law, the Insurance
Code, that regulates the business of insurance, including a health maintenance
organization, certain nonfederal government plans, and the Office of Group Benefits.
Effective Aug. 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 22:1827)