Provides relative to balance or “surprise” billing. Proposed law provides that an insured shall have the right to assign, in writing, any benefits payable under health insurance coverage, including any legal or contractual rights flowing from such coverage, to a healthcare provider who files claims with a health insurance issuer for medical
services provided to the insured, beneficiary, subscriber, or enrollee.
Proposed law requires that a health insurance issuer recognize any such assignment of benefits to a healthcare provider and shall not include any language or provisions prohibiting any such assignment in any form, contract, policy, subscriber agreement, certificate of coverage, or other evidence of health insurance coverage. Proposed law provides that an insurance contract or other evidence of health insurance coverage shall not prohibit, and claims forms shall provide an option for the payment of benefits directly to a licensed hospital, licensed ambulance provider, physician, dentist, or other healthcare provider who provided the medical services in accordance with the provisions the insurance contract for care provided. Proposed law establishes a dispute resolution process by which a dispute for a bill for emergency services or a surprise bill may be resolved. Grants the Louisiana Department of Insurance the power to accept certifications of independent dispute resolution entities to conduct the dispute resolution process.