This bill would regulate the provision of emergency ground ambulance services in the state by imposing requirements on reimbursement by health insurers for ambulance services. This bill would prohibit surprise billing of insurance enrollees by providing that the reimbursement requirements be accepted as payment in full. A ground ambulance provider could directly charge an individual for no more than the in-network cost-sharing amount under an insurance contract. This bill would require that both ground ambulance services and health care insurers submit reports on their operations, with financial information, to the Alabama Department of Public Health. This bill would also require the Alabama Department of Public Health to retain an outside expert to study and report on the effects of this act on access to ground ambulance services in the state, with recommended measures to improve access. This bill would be repealed on June 1, 2029.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 27-1-17