Bill > S717

This bill amends Chapter 176D of the General Laws to require insurers to directly and promptly pay ambulance service providers for emergency ambulance services rendered to insured individuals, even if the provider is not under contract with the insurer. The payment rate is set at the municipality's established ambulance rates, which must be reported to the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) annually. Municipalities are limited in their ability to increase these rates beyond the current Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark without approval from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The bill also establishes an Ambulance Service Advisory Council to advise the Secretary on requests for rate increases exceeding the benchmark, taking into account factors such as geographic differences, travel distances, costs of providing services, quality of care, and new compliance requirements.

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S717