HB 1265

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to direct payment for services under
3	health insurance policies; amending s. 627.638, F.S.;
4	including ambulance services providers under provisions
5	for direct payment for certain services under health
6	insurance policies; providing an effective date.
7
8	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10	Section 1.  Section 627.638, Florida Statutes, is amended
11	to read:
12	627.638  Direct payment for ambulance, hospital, medical
13	services.--
14	(1)  Any health insurance policy insuring against loss or
15	expense due to hospital confinement or to medical and related
16	services may provide for payment of benefits directly to any
17	recognized hospital, ambulance services provider, doctor, or
18	other person who provided the services, in accordance with the
19	provisions of the policy. To comply with this section, the words
20	"or to the hospital, ambulance services provider, doctor, or
21	person rendering services covered by this policy," or similar
22	words appropriate to the terms of the policy, shall be added to
23	applicable provisions of the policy.
24	(2)  Whenever, in any health insurance claim form, an
25	insured specifically authorizes payment of benefits directly to
26	any recognized hospital, ambulance services provider, physician,
27	or dentist, the insurer shall make such payment to the
28	designated provider of such services, unless otherwise provided
29	in the insurance contract. The insurance contract may not
30	prohibit, and claims forms must provide an option for, the
31	payment of benefits directly to a licensed hospital, physician,
32	or dentist for care provided pursuant to s. 395.1041 and to an
33	ambulance services provider licensed pursuant to chapter 401 for
34	transportation or treatment. The insurer may require written
35	attestation of assignment of benefits. Payment to the provider
36	from the insurer may not be more than the amount that the
37	insurer would otherwise have paid without the assignment.
38	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

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