Bill > HB888

This bill, the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act, enacts several key provisions to provide certain consumer protections against surprise medical bills in Georgia. The bill requires insurers to pay for emergency medical services from out-of-network providers and to treat nonemergency services that result in a "surprise bill" as if they were provided by in-network providers. It establishes an arbitration process for disputes between insurers and out-of-network providers over payment amounts, with the arbitrator selecting one of the final offers submitted by the parties. The bill also requires the state insurance department to maintain an all-payer health claims database and to report annually on the results of the arbitration process. The bill applies to health insurance plans regulated by the state, but excludes plans subject to the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Health and Social Services