2017 -- S 0272

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LC000474

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- SURPRISE BILLS FOR MEDICAL SERVICES

     Introduced By: Senators Algiere, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 27 of the General Laws entitled "INSURANCE" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 82

SURPRISE BILLS FOR MEDICAL SERVICES

     27-82-1. Definitions.

     For the purposes of this chapter:

     (1) "Emergency medical condition" means a medical condition manifesting itself by acute

symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, such that a prudent layperson with an

average knowledge of health and medicine, acting reasonably, would have believed that the

absence of immediate medical attention would result in serious impairment to bodily functions or

serious dysfunction of a bodily organ or part, or would place the person's health or, with respect

to a pregnant women, the health of the woman or her unborn child, in serious jeopardy.

     (2) "Emergency services" means, with respect to an emergency medical condition:

     (i) A medical screening examination as required under Section 1867 of the Social

Security Act 42, U.S.C. §1395dd, as amended from time to time, that is within the capability of a

hospital emergency department, including ancillary services routinely available to such

department to evaluate such condition; and

     (ii) Such further medical examinations and treatment required under Section 1867 of the

Social Security Act 42, U.S.C. §1395dd, to stabilize an individual, that are within the capability

of the hospital staff and facilities.

     (3) "Health care plan" means an insurer licensed to write accident and health insurance

pursuant to chapter 18 of title 27; a nonprofit hospital service corporation licensed to write

insurance pursuant to chapter 19 of title 27; a nonprofit medical service corporation licensed to

write insurance pursuant to chapter 20 of title 27; and a health maintenance organization licensed

to write insurance pursuant to chapter 41 of title 27.

     (4) "Health care provider" means an individual licensed to provide health care services,

pursuant to the general laws.

     (5) "Health carrier" means an insurance company, health care center, hospital service

corporation, medical service corporation, fraternal benefit society or other entity that delivers,

issues for delivery, renews, amends or continues a health care plan in this state.

     (6) "Insured" means a patient covered under a health care plan's policy or contract.

     (7) "Nonparticipating" means not having a contract with a health care plan to provide

health care services to an insured.

     (8) "Participating" means having a contract with a health care plan to provide health care

services to an insured.

     (9) "Patient" means a person who receives health care services, including emergency

services, in this state.

     (10)(i) "Surprise bill" means a bill for health care services, other than emergency

services, received by an insured for services rendered by an out-of-network health care provider,

where such services were rendered by such out-of-network provider at an in-network facility,

during a service or procedure performed by an in-network provider or during a service or

procedure previously approved or authorized by the health carrier and the insured did not

knowingly elect to obtain such services from such out-of-network provider; and

     (ii) "Surprise bill" does not include a bill for health care services received by an insured

when an in-network health care provider was available to render such services and the insured

knowingly elected to obtain such services from another health care provider who was out-of-

network.

     27-82-2. Applicability.

     This chapter shall not apply to health care services, including emergency services, where

physician fees are subject to schedules or other monetary limitations under any other law,

including the workers' compensation law, and shall not preempt any such law.

     27-82-3. Billing and reimbursement.

     (a) No health carrier shall require prior authorization for rendering emergency services to

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an insured.

     (b) No health carrier shall impose, for emergency services rendered to an insured by an

out-of-network health care provider, a co-insurance, co-payment, deductible or other out-of-

pocket expense that is greater than the co-insurance, co-payment, deductible or other out-of-

pocket expense that would be imposed if such emergency services were rendered by an in-

network health care provider.

     (c) If emergency services were rendered to an insured by an out-of-network health care

provider, such health care provider may bill the health carrier directly and the health carrier shall

reimburse such health care provider the greatest of the following amounts:

     (1) The amount the insured's health care plan would pay for such services if rendered by

an in-network health care provider;

     (2) The usual, customary and reasonable rate for such services; or

     (3) The amount Medicare would reimburse for such services. "Usual, customary and

reasonable rate" means the eightieth percentile of all charges for the particular health care service

performed by a health care provider in the same or similar specialty and provided in the same

geographical area, as reported in a benchmarking database maintained by a nonprofit organization

specified by the commissioner. Such organization shall not be affiliated with any health carrier.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit such health carrier and out-of-network

health care provider from agreeing to a greater reimbursement amount.

     (d) With respect to a surprise bill:

     (1) An insured shall only be required to pay the applicable co-insurance, co-payment,

deductible or other out-of-pocket expense that would be imposed for such health care services if

such services were rendered by an in-network health care provider; and

     (2) A health carrier shall reimburse the out-of-network health care provider or insured, as

applicable, for health care services rendered at the in-network rate under the insured's health care

plan as payment in full, unless such health carrier and health care provider agree otherwise.

     (e) If health care services were rendered to an insured by an out-of-network health care

provider and the health carrier failed to inform such insured of the network status of such health

care provider, the health carrier shall not impose a co-insurance, co-payment, deductible or other

out-of-pocket expense that is greater than the co-insurance, co-payment, deductible or other out-

of-pocket expense that would be imposed if such services were rendered by an in-network health

care provider.

     27-82-4. Dispute resolution process established.

     The health insurance commissioner ("commissioner") shall establish a dispute resolution

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process by which a dispute for a bill for emergency services or a surprise bill may be resolved.

The commissioner shall have the power to grant and revoke certifications of independent dispute

resolution entities to conduct the dispute resolution process. The commissioner shall promulgate

rules and regulations establishing standards for the dispute resolution process, including a process

for certifying and selecting independent dispute resolution entities. An independent dispute

resolution entity shall use licensed physicians in active practice in the same or similar specialty as

the physician providing the service that is subject to the dispute resolution process of this chapter.

To the extent practicable, the physician shall be licensed in this state.

     27-82-5. Criteria for determining a reasonable fee.

     In determining the appropriate amount to pay for a health care service, an independent

dispute resolution entity shall consider all relevant factors, including:

     (1) Whether there is a gross disparity between the fee charged by the physician for

services rendered as compared to:

     (i) Fees paid to the involved physician for the same services rendered by the physician to

other patients in health care plans in which the physician is not participating; and

     (ii) In the case of a dispute involving a health care plan, fees paid by the health care plan

to reimburse similarly qualified physicians for the same services in the same region who are not

participating with the health care plan;

     (2) The level of training, education and experience of the physician;

     (3) The physician's usual charge for comparable services with regard to patients in health

care plans in which the physician is not participating;

     (4) The circumstances and complexity of the particular case, including time and place of

the service;

     (5) Individual patient characteristics; and

     (6) The usual and customary cost of the service.

     27-82-6. Dispute resolution for emergency services.

     (a) Emergency services for an insured:

     (1) When a health care plan receives a bill for emergency services from a

nonparticipating physician, the health care plan shall pay an amount that it determines is

reasonable for the emergency services rendered by the nonparticipating physician, except for the

insured's co-payment, co-insurance or deductible, if any, and shall ensure that the insured shall

incur no greater out-of-pocket costs for the emergency services than the insured would have

incurred with a participating physician;

     (2) A nonparticipating physician or a health care plan may submit a dispute regarding a

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fee or payment for emergency services for review to an independent dispute resolution entity

established by the commissioner;

     (3) The independent dispute resolution entity shall make a determination within thirty

(30) days of receipt of the dispute for review;

     (4) In determining a reasonable payment for the services rendered, the independent

dispute resolution entity shall select either the health care plan's payment or the nonparticipating

physician's fee. The independent dispute resolution entity shall determine which amount to select

based upon the conditions and factors set forth in §27-82-5. If the independent dispute resolution

entity determines, based on the health care plan's payment and the nonparticipating physician's

fee, that a settlement between the health care plan and nonparticipating physician is reasonably

likely, or that both the health care plan's payment and the nonparticipating physician's fee

represent unreasonable extremes, then the independent dispute resolution entity may direct both

parties to attempt a good faith negotiation for settlement. The health care plan and

nonparticipating physician may be granted up to ten (10) business days for this negotiation, which

shall run concurrently with the thirty (30) day period for dispute resolution.

     (b) Emergency services for a patient who is not an insured:

     (1) A patient who is not an insured or the patient's physician may submit a dispute

regarding a fee for emergency services for review to an independent dispute resolution entity

upon approval of the commissioner;

     (2) The independent dispute resolution entity shall determine a reasonable fee for the

services based upon the same conditions and factors set forth in §27-82-5;

     (3) A patient that is not an insured shall not be required to pay the physician's fee in order

to be eligible to submit the dispute for review to the independent dispute resolution entity.

     (c) The determination of the independent dispute resolution entity shall be binding on the

health care plan, physician and patient, and shall be admissible in any court proceeding between

the health care plan, physician or patient, or in any administrative proceeding between this state

and the physician.

     27-82-7. Hold harmless and assignment of benefits for surprise bills for insureds.

     When an insured assigns benefits for a surprise bill in writing to a nonparticipating

physician that knows the insured is insured under a health care plan, the nonparticipating

physician shall not bill the insured except for any applicable co-payment, co-insurance or

deductible that would be owed if the insured utilized a participating physician.

     27-82-8. Dispute resolution for surprise bills.

     (a) Surprise bill received by an insured who assigns benefits.

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     (1) If an insured assigns benefits to a nonparticipating physician, the health care plan

shall pay the nonparticipating physician in accordance with subsections (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this

section.

     (2) The nonparticipating physician may bill the health care plan for the health care

services rendered, and the health care plan shall pay the nonparticipating physician the billed

amount or attempt to negotiate reimbursement with the nonparticipating physician.

     (3) If the health care plan's attempts to negotiate reimbursement for health care services

provided by a nonparticipating physician does not result in a resolution of the payment dispute

between the nonparticipating physician and the health care plan, the health care plan shall pay the

nonparticipating physician an amount the health care plan determines is reasonable for the health

care services rendered, except for the insured's co-payment, co-insurance or deductible.

     (4) Either the health care plan or the nonparticipating physician may submit the dispute

regarding the surprise bill for review to an independent dispute resolution entity; provided

however, the health care plan may not submit the dispute unless it has complied with the

requirements of subsections (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this section.

     (5) The independent dispute resolution entity shall make a determination within thirty

(30) days of receipt of the dispute for review.

     (6) When determining a reasonable fee for the services rendered, the independent dispute

resolution entity shall select either the health care plan's payment or the nonparticipating

physician's fee. An independent dispute resolution entity shall determine which amount to select

based upon the conditions and factors set forth in §27-82-5. If an independent dispute resolution

entity determines, based on the health care plan's payment and the nonparticipating physician's

fee, that a settlement between the health care plan and nonparticipating physician is reasonably

likely, or that both the health care plan's payment and the nonparticipating physician's fee

represent unreasonable extremes, then the independent dispute resolution entity may direct both

parties to attempt a good faith negotiation for settlement. The health care plan and

nonparticipating physician may be granted up to ten (10) business days for this negotiation, which

shall run concurrently with the thirty (30) day period for dispute resolution.

     (b) Surprise bill received by an insured who does not assign benefits or by a patient who

is not an insured.

     (1) An insured who does not assign benefits in accordance with subsection (a) of this

section or a patient who is not an insured and who receives a surprise bill may submit a dispute

regarding the surprise bill for review to an independent dispute resolution entity.

     (2) The independent dispute resolution entity shall determine a reasonable fee for the

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services rendered based upon the conditions and factors set forth in §27-82-5.

     (3) A patient or insured who does not assign benefits in accordance with subsection (a) of

this section shall not be required to pay the physician's fee to be eligible to submit the dispute for

review to the independent dispute entity.

     (c) The determination of an independent dispute resolution entity shall be binding on the

patient, physician and health care plan, and shall be admissible in any court proceeding between

the patient or insured, physician or health care plan, or in any administrative proceeding between

this state and the physician.

     27-82-9. Payment for independent dispute resolution entity.

     (a) For disputes involving an insured, when the independent dispute resolution entity

determines the health care plan's payment is reasonable, payment for the dispute resolution

process shall be the responsibility of the nonparticipating physician. When the independent

dispute resolution entity determines the nonparticipating physician's fee is reasonable, payment

for the dispute resolution process shall be the responsibility of the health care plan. When a good

faith negotiation directed by the independent dispute resolution entity pursuant to §27-82-6(a)(4)

or §27-82-8(a)(6) results in a settlement between the health care plan and nonparticipating

physician, the health care plan and the nonparticipating physician shall evenly divide and share

the prorated cost for dispute resolution.

     (b) For disputes involving a patient that is not an insured, when the independent dispute

resolution entity determines the physician's fee is reasonable, payment for the dispute resolution

process shall be the responsibility of the patient unless payment for the dispute resolution process

would pose a hardship to the patient. "Hardship" means a household income below two hundred

fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level as determined by the United States Department

of Health and Human Services. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations to

determine payment for the dispute resolution process in cases of hardship. When the independent

dispute resolution entity determines the physician's fee is unreasonable, payment for the dispute

resolution process shall be the responsibility of the physician.

     SECTION 2. Section 6-13.1-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 6-13.1 entitled "Deceptive

Trade Practices" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     6-13.1-1. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Documentary material" means the original or a copy of any book, record, report,

memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical

transcription, or other tangible document or recording wherever situated.

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     (2) "Examination" of documentary material includes the inspection, study, or copying of

any documentary material, and the taking of testimony under oath or acknowledgment in respect

of any documentary material or copy of any documentary material.

     (3) "Person" means natural persons, corporations, trusts, partnerships, incorporated or

unincorporated associations, and any other legal entity.

     (4) "Rebate" means the return of a payment or a partial payment that serves as a discount

or reduction in price.

     (5) "Trade" and "commerce" mean the advertising, offering for sale, sale, or distribution

of any services and any property, tangible or intangible, real, personal, or mixed, and any other

article, commodity, or thing of value wherever situate, and include any trade or commerce

directly or indirectly affecting the people of this state.

     (6) "Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices" means any

one or more of the following:

     (i) Passing off goods or services as those of another;

     (ii) Causing likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship,

approval, or certification of goods or services;

     (iii) Causing likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to affiliation, connection,

or association with, or certification by, another;

     (iv) Using deceptive representations or designations of geographic origin in connection

with goods or services;

     (v) Representing that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics,

ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities that they do not have or that a person has a sponsorship,

approval, status, affiliation, or connection that he or she does not have;

     (vi) Representing that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, altered,

reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand; and if household goods have been repaired or

reconditioned, without conspicuously noting the defect that necessitated the repair on the tag that

contains the cost to the consumer of the goods;

     (vii) Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or

that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another;

     (viii) Disparaging the goods, services, or business of another by false or misleading

representation of fact;

     (ix) Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised;

     (x) Advertising goods or services with intent not to supply reasonably expectable public

demand, unless the advertisement discloses a limitation of quantity;

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     (xi) Making false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for, existence

of, or amounts of price reductions;

     (xii) Engaging in any other conduct that similarly creates a likelihood of confusion or of

misunderstanding;

     (xiii) Engaging in any act or practice that is unfair or deceptive to the consumer;

     (xiv) Using any other methods, acts, or practices that mislead or deceive members of the

public in a material respect;

     (xv) Advertising any brand name goods for sale and then selling substituted brand names

in their place;

     (xvi) Failure to include the brand name and or manufacturer of goods in any

advertisement of the goods for sale, and, if the goods are used or secondhand, failure to include

the information in the advertisement;

     (xvii) Advertising claims concerning safety, performance, and comparative price unless

the advertiser, upon request by any person, the consumer council, or the attorney general, makes

available documentation substantiating the validity of the claim;

     (xviii) Representing that work has been performed on or parts replaced in goods when the

work was not in fact performed or the parts not in fact replaced; or

     (xix) Failing to separately state the amount charged for labor and the amount charged for

services when requested by the purchaser as provided for in § 44-18-12(b)(3).

     (xx) Advertising for sale at a retail establishment the availability of a manufacturer's

rebate by displaying the net price of the advertised item (the price of the item after the rebate has

been deducted from the item's price) in the advertisement, unless the amount of the

manufacturer's rebate is provided to the consumer by the retailer at the time of the purchase of the

advertised item. It shall be the retailer's burden to redeem the rebate offered to the consumer by

the manufacturer.

     (xxi) For any health care provider (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27) to

request payment from an insured (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27), other than co-

insurance, co-payment, deductible, or other out-of-pocket expense, for:

     (A) A surprise bill (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27); or

     (B) Emergency services (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27) covered under a

health care plan and rendered by an out-of-network health care provider;

     (xxii) For any health care provider (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27) to

report to a credit reporting agency an insured's (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27)

failure to pay a bill for:

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     (A) A surprise bill (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27); or

     (B) Emergency services (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27) covered under a

health care plan and rendered by an out-of-network health care provider, when the health carrier

(as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27) has primary responsibility for payment of such

services, fees or bills; or

     (xxiii) For any health care provider (as such term is defined in chapter 82 of title 27) to

otherwise willfully fail to comply with chapter 82 of title 27 with such frequency as to indicate a

general business practice.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- SURPRISE BILLS FOR MEDICAL SERVICES

***

     This act would provide for a dispute resolution process for emergency services and

surprise bills for medical services performed by nonparticipating (out-of-network) health care

providers.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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