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The Committee on General Government Appropriations (Baker)

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recommended the following substitute for amendment (578626):

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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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)  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, doctor, or

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other person who provided the services, in accordance with the

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

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

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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)  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, the insurer shall make such payment to the designated

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provider of such services, unless otherwise provided in the

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insurance contract. The insurance contract may not prohibit, and

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claims forms must provide an option for, the payment of benefits

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directly to a licensed hospital, licensed ambulance provider,

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physician, or dentist for care provided pursuant to s. 395.1041

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or part III of chapter 401. The insurer may require written

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attestation of assignment of benefits. Payment to the provider

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from the insurer may not be more than the amount that the insurer

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would otherwise have paid without the assignment.

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     (3) Any insurer who has contracted with a preferred

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provider, as defined in s. 627.6471(1)(b), for the delivery of

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health care services to its insureds shall make payments directly

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to the preferred provider for such services.

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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 5-7

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and insert:

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requiring that an insurer make payments directly to the

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preferred provider for the delivery of health care

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services; creating s. 627.64731, F.S.; providing

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requirements

4/9/2008  9:03:00 PM     601-07242-08