Overview
Wyoming was one of the first states to permit out-of-state regulated insurers to sell insurance products domestically to increase competition and decrease the cost to enter the market. Wyoming also requires studies of high hospital costs in the state, loss of medical services, and the use of out-of-state providers. While this statutory-mandated study is not yet complete, Wyoming Hospital Association attempts to compensate by offering an online price disclosure database for its hospitals. A coalition of Wyoming employers is also interested in obtaining charge data across all insured in order to better negotiate rates directly with providers. Additionally, the state adopted a resolution in support of promoting health care billing transparency, health savings accounts, and more.
In market consolidation oversight, Wyoming requires notification of nonprofit hospital mergers to the Attorney General. Additionally, the state requires approval of general nonprofit corporation mergers, as well as court approval of nonprofit hospitals mergers.
For 2024, Wyoming passed two pieces of key healthcare legislation. HB14 requires health insurers and contracted utilization review entities to follow prior authorization regulations, and includes transparency requirements, minimum qualifications for who can make adverse determinations, and provider exemptions from prior authorization requirements. The state also passed SF100, requiring swift payment of clean claims made by pharmacies.
See below for an overview of existing Wyoming state mandates. Click on citation tab for detailed information of specific statutes (click link to download statute text).
State Action
Latest Legislative Session: 1/10/2023 - 3/3/2023 (2023 term). *Current session bill updates are ongoing. Check back weekly for updates.
HB 0107 – Wyoming
Introduced: 2018 Status: Inactive / Dead
PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS – PROHIBITED PRACTICES: Would prohibit insurers and pharmacy benefit managers from penalizing pharmacy or pharmacist for disclosing to the consumer information about the cost of the prescription drug or the availability of …
HB 110 – Wyoming
Introduced: 2022 Status: Enacted
AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; providing for the licensure of persons practicing behavior analysis; providing licensure exemptions; providing for the suspension or revocation of behavior analysis licenses; providing for criminal history background checks; …
HB 111 – Wyoming
Introduced: 2021 Status: Enacted
AN ACT relating to health care; prohibiting discrimination in the provision of health care services and insurance for organ transplants and related procedures based on a person’s disability; providing definitions; providing for enforcement and authorizing …
HB 117 – Wyoming
Introduced: 2022 Status: Enacted
AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; entering into a compact with other states to allow licensed occupational therapist and licensed occupational therapy assistants licensed in one compact state to exercise a multistate licensure privilege …
HB 14 – Wyoming
Introduced: 2024 Status: Enacted
AN ACT relating to the insurance code; requiring health insurers and contracted utilization review entities to follow prior authorization regulations as specified; providing legislative findings; providing definitions; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.
Wyo. Stat. § 26-19-308. Health benefit plan committee: Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The Wyoming health commissioner shall appoint a health benefit plan committee representative of health insurers and carriers in the state to recommend benefit designs, cost sharing arrangements, cost containment strategies and other features.
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Wyo. Stat. § 26-19-309. Periodic market evaluation: Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The board shall study and report at least every three (3) years to the commissioner on the effectiveness of this act. The report shall analyze the effectiveness of this act in promoting rate stability, product …
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Wyo. Stat. § 26-2-107. Conflict of interest prohibited; additional compensation prohibited: The Insurance Commissioner – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The commissioner or his deputy, or any examiner, assistant or employee of the department is prohibited from being connected with the management of or be financially interested in any insurer, insurance agency or insurance transaction …
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Wyo. Stat. § 26-2-109. Commissioner; powers and duties generally: The Insurance Commissioner – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The commissioner may conduct examinations and investigations of insurance matters, in addition to examinations and investigations expressly authorized, as he deems proper, upon reasonable and probable cause, to determine whether any person has violated any …
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Wyo. Stat. § 26-2-110. Rules and regulations: The Insurance Commissioner – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Willful violation of any provision of the Insurance Code or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto subjects the violator to suspension or revocation of a certificate of authority or license as may be applicable.
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Additional Resources
STATE BUDGET
Wyoming has a biennial budget cycle that begins in July. State agencies submit their budget requests in August. Agency hearings are held September through November. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Wyoming State Legislature by the third Monday in November. The Wyoming State Legislature adopts a budget in March. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
STATE LEGISLATURE
The Legislature meets in a General Session in odd numbered years, beginning on the second Tuesday of January. The General Session is limited to 40 legislative days. In even numbered years, the Legislature convenes in a Budget Session beginning on the second Monday of February, which typically lasts 20 legislative days. There are 31 members of the State Senate, 62 members of the House of Representatives. Senators serve four year terms, Representatives serve for two. Legislation carries over from odd numbered years to even.