This bill would regulate the provision of emergency ambulance services in the state for a period of approximately four years, by imposing requirements on reimbursement by health insurers for ambulance providers that depend on whether the provider is in-network or out-of-network. Currently, a provider that is not in a health care insurer's network may bill an insured individual for the balance of its retail charge for ground ambulance service after it has received payment from the insurer. This bill would prohibit this practice and limit the charge to an enrollee to no more than the in-network cost-sharing amount under the insurance contract. This bill would require health insurers to reimburse an ambulance service within 30 days of receiving the claim. During the first two years that the requirements of this bill would be in effect, the Alabama Department of Public Health would be required to study its impact on the responsiveness and availability of ambulance services, especially in rural areas of the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22-18-1