Bill > SB197

This bill establishes regulations for "direct health care agreements" in Alaska. These are written agreements between a healthcare provider and a patient, government entity, or employer to provide healthcare services in exchange for an annual fee. The bill outlines various requirements for these agreements, such as what must be disclosed, restrictions on additional charges, and rules for termination and modification. It also exempts these agreements from insurance regulations and prohibits healthcare providers from discriminating against patients in offering or terminating these agreements based on certain protected characteristics, with limited exceptions. Finally, the bill adds violations of the new direct health care agreement provisions to the state's unfair trade practices law.