HB 2444 is a bill that amends existing Arizona Revised Statutes related to health care payments. The bill introduces several changes to the current law. It requires health insurers to accept tangible checks as a form of payment and stipulates that if a health care provider opts out of a payment method, that decision remains in effect until the provider opts back in or a new contract is executed. The definition of a "grievance" is expanded to include delays in claim adjudication that result in delayed payments or clean claims. Additionally, the bill mandates the Director of the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) to post an annual report on the department's website, detailing the number of grievances received, the average time to resolve a grievance, and the percentage of grievances where the insurer's decision was overturned.

The bill also clarifies that health care providers, with written informed consent from a patient, can collect payments for services that are not covered under the insurance policy or are medically necessary but were denied payment due to frequency limitations, with rates limited to the provider's fee schedule. Technical and conforming changes are made to align with these new provisions. The bill is set to become effective on the general effective date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 20-241, 20-3101, 20-3102, 20-3115
House Engrossed Version: 20-241, 20-3101, 20-3102, 20-3115
Chaptered Version: 20-241, 20-3101, 20-3102, 20-3115