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The Committee on Health Regulation (Lawson) recommended the

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following substitute for amendment (578626):

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendments)

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     Delete lines 34-61

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and insert:

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     Section 1.  Section 627.638, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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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, doctor, or other person who provided the

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services, in accordance with the provisions of the policy. To

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comply with this section, the words "or to the hospital, doctor,

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or person rendering services covered by this policy," or similar

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words appropriate to the terms of the policy, shall be added to

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applicable provisions of the 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, physician, or dentist, in accordance

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with the provisions of the policy, the insurer shall make such

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payment to the designated provider of such services, unless

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otherwise provided in the insurance contract. The insurance

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contract may not prohibit, and claims forms must provide an

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option for, the payment of benefits directly to a licensed

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hospital, physician, or dentist for care provided pursuant to s.

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395.1041. The insurer may require the person who provided the

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services to retain and make available upon request a written

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attestation of assignment of benefits. Such attestation assigning

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benefits may be transferred to the insurer in electronic form.

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Payment to the provider from the insurer may not be more than the

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amount that the insurer would otherwise have paid without the

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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 lines 5 and 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

3/26/2008  1:14:00 PM     6-05816-08