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January 21, 2008 issue
Insurance
BILL: HB 1055—Assignment of Benefits
AUTHOR: Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary
ISMA POSITION: Support
THIS WEEK: The House Public Health Committee took testimony but did not vote on HB 1055 last week, so the committee could take into consideration all testimony that was offered.
The bill would require insurers to honor a patient’s request for assignment of benefits to an out of network provider.
A number of health care provider groups testified in favor of the bill, and insurance representatives were overwhelmingly opposed to the bill.
HB 1055 is one of ISMA’s top legislative priorities, and the Government Relations staff will continue to work diligently to pass the bill.
BILL: SB 159 – Silent PPOs
AUTHOR: Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield
ISMA POSITION: Support
THIS WEEK: SB 159 will be heard in the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee Jan. 22.
This bill would require conspicuous language in a physician contract if a network wishes to sell a physician’s discounted reimbursement rate to third parties. The network would also be required to maintain a Web site and toll-free phone number listing all parties to whom the network has sold the discount.
In addition, it would require the third party to include contact information on explanation of benefits for the network who sold the discount.
SB 159 is one of ISMA’s top legislative priorities.
BILL: HB 1342 Electronic Health Records System
AUTHOR: Rep. Mike Ripley, R-Monroe
ISMA POSITION: Oppose
THIS WEEK: The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
HB 1342 would require health care facilities and practitioners to use electronic health records systems for purposes of billing and receipt of claim payment services rendered by the facility or practitioner by Jan. 1, 2010.
The system would allow for the exchange of information between the system and the claim payment system of each third party to which the practitioner submits a bill.
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