SB51 Summary

• Requires health care insurers to contract with any willing emergency medical service (EMS) provider that accepts comparable in-network payment terms and rates.

• Sets minimum reimbursement rates: in-network providers receive the greater of contracted amount or 200% of Medicare rates as of January 1, 2025; out-of-network providers receive the lesser of billed charges or 180% of Medicare rates.

• Prohibits EMS providers from billing patients more than the minimum reimbursement amounts, except for the patient's in-network cost-sharing obligations.

• Requires insurers to pay out-of-network EMS providers directly within 30 days of clean electronic claims or 45 days of clean written claims, and to respond to non-clean claims within 30 days.

• Mandates EMS providers submit annual operational and financial reports to Alabama Department of Public Health; requires department to contract with consultant to study the law's impact with report due December 1, 2028; provisions sunset June 1, 2029.