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. § 35-2-423. Restriction on maintenance of hospitals in cities and towns: Hospital Districts – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
No city or town which is within the boundaries of a special hospital district organized under W.S. 35-2-401 through 35-2-436 shall construct or operate a hospital more than one (1) year after the formation of …
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Wyo. Stat. § 35-2-429. Construction to be done by contract based on competitive bidding; alternate delivery methods: Hospital Districts – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section and otherwise, the work of constructing the various buildings shall be done by contract based on competitive bidding.
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Wyo. Stat. § 35-2-435. Charges and rentals: Hospital Districts – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
The board shall establish and collect charges for services and rentals for use of facilities furnished, acquired, constructed, or purchased from the proceeds of such securities, sufficient to pay the principal or the interest, or …
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Wyo. Stat. § 35-2-438. Dissolution: Hospital Districts – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Subject to the requirements of this section, the trustees of a hospital district may vote to dissolve and terminate the district. The plan to dissolve and terminate the district shall provide for the disposition of …
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Wyo. Stat. § 35-2-701. Procedure for proposing establishment of special rural health care districts: Rural Health Care Districts – Wyoming
Introduced: Status: Enacted
A special rural health care district may be established under the procedures for petitioning, hearing and election of special districts as set forth in the Special District Elections Act of 1994.
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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.