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The Committee on Commerce (Oelrich) recommended the following

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amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Delete line(s) 34-61

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and insert:

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     Section 1.  Section 627.638, Florida Statutes, is amended

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to read:

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     627.638  Direct payment for hospital, medical services.--

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     (1) A Any health insurance policy insuring against loss or

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expense due to hospital confinement or to medical and related

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services may provide for payment of benefits directly to any

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recognized hospital, licensed ambulance provider, physician

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doctor, or other person who provided the services, in accordance

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with the provisions of the policy. To comply with this section,

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the words "or to the hospital, licensed ambulance provider,

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physician doctor, or person rendering services covered by this

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policy," or similar words appropriate to the terms of the

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policy, must shall be added to applicable provisions of the

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policy.

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

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insured specifically authorizes payment of benefits directly to

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any recognized hospital, licensed ambulance provider, physician,

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or dentist, or other person who provided the services, in

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accordance with the provisions of the policy, the insurer shall

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make such payment to the designated provider of such services,

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unless otherwise provided in the insurance contract. The

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insurance contract may not prohibit, and claims forms must

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provide an option for, the payment of benefits directly to a

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licensed hospital, licensed ambulance provider, physician, or

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dentist for care provided pursuant to s. 395.1041. The insurer

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may require a provider to retain and make available upon request

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a written attestation of assignment of benefits. The attestation

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assigning benefits may be transferred to the insurer in

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electronic form. Payment to the provider from the insurer may

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not be more than the amount that the insurer would otherwise

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have paid without the assignment.

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     Delete line(s) 5-6

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and insert:

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authorizing an insurer to require a provider to make

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available a written attestation of assignment of benefits;

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authorizing the attestation to be transferred to the

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insurer in electronic

3/10/2008  8:24:00 AM     577-04611A-08