HB 2444 Summary

• Health insurers must accept tangible checks as a payment method and cannot restrict payments to only credit cards or electronic methods for health care providers.

• Health insurers must notify providers of any fees associated with payment methods and allow providers to opt out of payment methods, with the opt-out decision remaining in effect until the provider opts back in or a new contract is executed.

• Expands the definition of "grievance" to include delays in claim adjudication that result in delayed payment of clean claims, and requires health insurers to maintain detailed records of provider grievances.

• Directors must post annual reports on August 1 including total grievances received, average time to resolve grievances, and the percentage of grievances where the insurer's decision was overturned.

• Allows health care providers to collect payment from patients for uncovered services or medically necessary services denied based on frequency limits, restricted to the provider's established fee schedule rates.