MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Insurance; Public Health and Human Services By: Representative Turner House Bill 1168 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 83-9-373, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MINIMUM ALLOWABLE REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR AN OUT-OF-NETWORK AMBULANCE SERVICE PROVIDER WHEN THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES HAVE NOT BEEN CONTRACTED FOR; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH MINIMUM ALLOWABLE REIMBURSEMENT RATE SHALL BE THE LESSER OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWED BY MEDICARE FOR THE RESPECTIVE SERVICES ORIGINATING IN THE RESPECTIVE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR THE AMBULANCE SERVICE PROVIDER'S BILLED CHARGES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 83-9-373, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 83-9-373. (1) (a) The minimum allowable reimbursement rate under any policy of accident and sickness insurance as defined by Section 83-9-1 to an out-of-network ambulance service provider for all covered services shall be the rates contracted between an ambulance service provider and a county, municipality or special purpose district or authority, or otherwise approved or established by ordinance or regulation enacted by any such county, municipality or special purpose district or authority in which the covered healthcare services originated. (b) In the absence of rates provided in subsection (a), the minimum allowable reimbursement rate to an out-of-network ambulance service provider shall be the * * *greater lesser of: (i) * * *Three hundred twenty‑five percent (325%) One hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the reimbursement allowed by Medicare for the respective services originating in the respective geographic area; or (ii) The ambulance service provider's billed charges. (2) A payment made under this section shall be considered payment in full for the covered services provided, except for any copayment, coinsurance, deductible and other cost-sharing feature amounts required to be paid by the enrollee. (3) For purposes of this section, the term "ambulance service provider" means a person or entity that provides ambulance transportation and emergency medical services to a patient for which a permit is required under Section 41-59-9. (4) This section shall stand repealed on June 30, * * *2028 2027. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Insurance; Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Turner
# House Bill 1168
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 83-9-373, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MINIMUM ALLOWABLE REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR AN OUT-OF-NETWORK AMBULANCE SERVICE PROVIDER WHEN THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES HAVE NOT BEEN CONTRACTED FOR; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH MINIMUM ALLOWABLE REIMBURSEMENT RATE SHALL BE THE LESSER OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWED BY MEDICARE FOR THE RESPECTIVE SERVICES ORIGINATING IN THE RESPECTIVE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR THE AMBULANCE SERVICE PROVIDER'S BILLED CHARGES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 83-9-373, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
83-9-373. (1) (a) The minimum allowable reimbursement rate under any policy of accident and sickness insurance as defined by Section 83-9-1 to an out-of-network ambulance service provider for all covered services shall be the rates contracted between an ambulance service provider and a county, municipality or special purpose district or authority, or otherwise approved or established by ordinance or regulation enacted by any such county, municipality or special purpose district or authority in which the covered healthcare services originated.
(b) In the absence of rates provided in subsection (a), the minimum allowable reimbursement rate to an out-of-network ambulance service provider shall be the * * *greater lesser of:
(i) * * *Three hundred twenty‑five percent (325%) One hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the reimbursement allowed by Medicare for the respective services originating in the respective geographic area; or
(ii) The ambulance service provider's billed charges.
(2) A payment made under this section shall be considered payment in full for the covered services provided, except for any copayment, coinsurance, deductible and other cost-sharing feature amounts required to be paid by the enrollee.
(3) For purposes of this section, the term "ambulance service provider" means a person or entity that provides ambulance transportation and emergency medical services to a patient for which a permit is required under Section 41-59-9.
(4) This section shall stand repealed on June 30, * * *2028 2027.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.