This bill aims to enhance regulations surrounding ambulance services in North Dakota by introducing new provisions related to balanced billing and provider reimbursement. It amends section 23-27-04.8 to allow the Department of Emergency Services to regulate primary communication methods for emergency medical services while permitting secondary communications through devices like cell phones. Additionally, it establishes a new section that prohibits ambulance service providers from billing more than the cost-sharing amounts a covered individual would owe if services were provided by a participating provider.

Furthermore, the bill creates a new section in chapter 26.1-47 that mandates direct payment of reimbursements from health care insurers to ambulance service providers for covered services. It specifies that if a covered person uses an out-of-network ambulance service, the insurer must pay the lesser of 250% of the Medicare reimbursement rate or the provider's billed charges. The bill also includes provisions for a legislative study on delinquent billing reimbursement for ambulance service providers and appropriates $20,000 for consulting services related to this study.

Statutes affected:
Adopted by the House Human Services Committee: 23-27-04.8
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 23-27-04.8
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Roers: 23-27-04.8
Adopted by the Conference Committee: 23-27-04.8
Enrollment: 23-27-04.8