An Act Concerning Required Health Insurance Coverage For Ambulance Services And Requiring Notification And Consent Regarding The Potential Cost Of Such Services In Certain Circumstances.
Impact
The bill's implementation is expected to significantly impact how health insurance companies handle claims for ambulance services. It will require insurers to pay ambulance providers directly for emergency services rendered, provided that the ambulance service complies with stipulated requirements. This change is anticipated to streamline the payment process, ensuring ambulance service providers are compensated without the delays that can arise from complex billing practices. Moreover, the bill's provisions aim to create a clearer understanding of cost responsibilities for covered individuals before they use non-emergency services, thereby enhancing consumer protection.
Summary
SB00324, titled 'An Act Concerning Required Health Insurance Coverage for Ambulance Services', aims to enhance the requirements for coverage of ambulance services under health insurance policies. The bill mandates that individual and group health insurance policies must cover medically necessary ambulance services at an in-network level. This includes transportation from a medical facility to a covered person's residence, ensuring that the costs are shared fairly between insurance providers and consumers. The act intends to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with emergency medical transport for policyholders.
Contention
While SB00324 addresses critical issues regarding health insurance and emergency services, it is not without contention. Some stakeholders express concerns about the potential for increased premiums due to raised coverage requirements, fearing that the costs could be shifted onto policyholders. Additionally, the bill includes stipulations requiring ambulance providers to obtain explicit consent from patients regarding the costs associated with non-emergency transport, which may complicate service delivery in urgent situations. Opponents argue this could result in delays or denials of care when patients are most vulnerable, particularly if they are unable to provide consent swiftly.
An Act Concerning Insurance Market Conduct And Insurance Licensing, The Insurance Department's Technical Corrections And Other Revisions To The Insurance Statutes And Captive Insurance.
Relating to the creation of and the powers of a comprehensive multimodal urban transportation authority, including the power to impose taxes, issue bonds, and exercise limited eminent domain authority.