HB 217-Relating to Payment of Healthcare Claims
On Wednesday, February 14th, HB 217, by Representative Bill Hager (R-Boca Raton) was heard before the House Appropriation Committee and passed by a vote of 21 yeas to 6 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, spoke in opposition to this bill.
This bill prohibits health insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from retroactively denying a claim during the relevant grace period, if the insurer or HMO verified the eligibility of an insured or subscriber at the time of treatment and provided an authorization number, regardless of if the insured has paid their premiums prior to that claim rendering them ineligible for coverage.
HB 217 will go on to the House Health and Human Services Committee for its next hearing.
AIF opposes legislation removing insurers ability to retroactively deny claims, even those that have not paid their premiums. This legislation would raise costs on employers who would be required to pay health care expenses of people who are no longer employees, and consumers would bear the burden of paying the high costs of fraud, waste and abuse that would occur in the system.
SB 280-Relating to Telehealth
On Wednesday, February 14th, SB 280 by Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville) was heard before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and passed. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.
SB 280 provides specific authorization for the provision of health care services through telehealth. Telehealth is the provision of health care services using telecommunication technologies, which allows licensed practitioners in one location to diagnose and treat patients at a different location. The bill will remove regulatory ambiguity regarding the provision of health care services using this technology because it is not currently addressed in Florida Statutes.
SB 280 will go on to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for its next hearing.
AIF supports legislation that permits an unfettered role for telehealth services that will allow our citizens access to better quality care at lower costs.
