North Carolina is looking to limit the cost of ambulance services in the state with North Carolina HB 489. The bill, which is in the Senate after passing the House, would require insurers to cover ground ambulance rides as in network, with patients paying no more than $100 per ride.
North Carolina HB 489 comes as a result of the following scenario. Often ambulance companies remain out of network with insurers because they do not want to accept the rates insurers offer. Insurers often don’t prioritize negotiating with ambulance agencies because there are so many small, local providers and patients are often unable to choose their ambulance in an emergency.
If passed, North Carolina HB 489 would require insurance companies to pay the locally approved rate for an ambulance trip. If there is no local rate, insurance companies would have to pay a minimum of either four times the most recently published Medicare rate, or the provider’s billed charge, whichever is less. Patients would be required to pay no more than $100 or 10 percent of what the insurer has to pay, whichever is less.
North Carolina HB 489 is currently in the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations. Americollect will continue to follow this bill.
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