SB 135 Summary

• Establishes the Alaska Health Care Consumer's Right to Shop Act requiring health care insurers to create an interactive online mechanism allowing covered persons to view and compare network provider payment information for cost comparison purposes.

• Requires health care insurers to develop and implement incentive programs providing cash payments to covered persons who elect to receive covered services from providers charging less than the insurer's average price, with minimum incentives of 33.4 percent for group plans and 50 percent for individual market plans.

• Mandates inclusion of at least 10 service categories in incentive programs including physical therapy, obstetrical/gynecological, radiology, laboratory, infusion, dental, vision, behavioral health, surgical procedures, and diagnostic tests.

• Requires insurers to file incentive program descriptions with the director before implementation and to submit annual reports detailing program participation, payments, and savings by service category beginning April 1, 2021.

• Reserves authority to regulate health care price information disclosure to the state and prohibits municipalities from enacting ordinances regulating disclosure of health care services pricing by providers, facilities, or insurers.