Senate Bill sb1188

    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 1188

    By Senator Lynn





    7-1018-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to health insurance; amending

  3         s. 627.638, F.S.; providing that, in specified

  4         circumstances, payment for certain health

  5         benefits shall be made directly to the

  6         hospital, physician, or other health care

  7         provider even if contrary to the insurance

  8         contract; providing an effective date.

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10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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12         Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 627.638, Florida

13  Statutes, is amended to read:

14         627.638  Direct payment for hospital, medical

15  services.--

16         (2)  Whenever, in any health insurance claim form, an

17  insured specifically authorizes payment of benefits directly

18  to any recognized hospital or physician, the insurer shall

19  make such payment to the designated provider of such services,

20  unless otherwise provided in the insurance contract. However,

21  if:

22         (a)  The benefit is determined to be covered under the

23  terms of the policy;

24         (b)  The claim is limited to treatment of mental health

25  or substance abuse, including drug and alcohol abuse; and

26         (c)  The insured authorizes the insurer, in writing, as

27  part of the claim to make direct payment of benefits to a

28  recognized hospital, physician, or other licensed provider,

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 1188
    7-1018-03




  1  payments shall be made directly to the recognized hospital,

  2  physician, or other licensed provider notwithstanding any

  3  contrary provision in the insurance contract.

  4         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.

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  7                          SENATE SUMMARY

  8    Provides that health insurance benefits for mental health
      or substance abuse treatment shall be paid directly to
  9    the hospital, physician, or other provider when requested
      by the insured, even if direct payment is contrary to the
10    insurance contract.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.