IL SB2405

Protects patients from surprise billing by out-of-network ground ambulance service providers by requiring health insurers to ensure patients pay no more in out-of-pocket costs than they would for in-network ambulance services, effective July 1, 2025

Establishes maximum allowable payment rates for private ground ambulance providers, including $2,660 for basic life support emergency base, $2,905 for advanced life support emergency level 1 base, and $56 per loaded mile, with 5% annual increases starting January 1, 2026

Requires payments to government-operated ambulance providers participating in the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) program to be based on cost-based amounts from their GEMT cost reports

Caps patient cost-sharing for any ground ambulance occurrence at the lesser of the plan's emergency room visit copay or 10% of the recognized amount

Grants the Attorney General enforcement authority by designating insurer noncompliance as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, with prevailing plaintiffs entitled to reasonable attorney's fees in payment disputes