SB 41 Summary

• Creates the "Alaska Health Care Consumer's Right to Shop Act" to increase transparency and price comparison in health care services.

• Requires health care insurers to establish an interactive online mechanism allowing covered persons to request and compare payment information for network health care providers.

• Mandates health care insurers develop and implement incentive programs providing cash payments to covered persons who choose providers charging less than the average price, with minimum incentive thresholds of 33.4% of savings for group plans and 50% for individual market plans.

• Requires insurers to include at least 10 specified health care service categories in incentive programs, including physical therapy, obstetrical services, radiology, laboratory services, dental, vision, behavioral health, and surgical procedures.

• Directs insurers to file program descriptions with the director, submit annual reports on incentive program participation and savings beginning April 1, 2023, and reserves price disclosure regulation authority exclusively to the state rather than municipalities.