AK HB176

Establishes direct health care agreements as written contracts between health care providers and patients, employers, or government entities for annual fees, exempt from insurance regulation.

Requires agreements to disclose services provided, use comparable annual fees based on services (not health status or sex), include 12-point plain language disclosures, and specify provider capacity and additional allowable charges.

Allows patients to terminate agreements within 30 days with refunds (minus services rendered) and requires providers to give 45 days' notice before changing annual fees.

Prohibits discrimination in accepting or terminating patients based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, marital status, pregnancy, or other federally protected characteristics, though providers may decline based on inability to provide required care or lack of capacity.

Requires health care providers to file annual reports with the division of insurance by September 1 detailing patient numbers, fees, and percentage of patients using Medicare or medical assistance; takes effect January 1, 2023.