MO HB1971

Requires health carriers to send electronic acknowledgment of electronically filed claims within one working day of receipt.

Changes the timeframe for initial claim status notice from ten to fifteen working days, requiring health carriers to notify claimants whether claims are "clean claims" or require additional information.

Extends the deadline for health carriers to pay claims or issue final denials to fifteen days after receiving requested additional information.

Adds a daily penalty equal to one-fifth of the unpaid claim amount (in addition to monthly interest) if claims remain unpaid after the forty-fifth processing day, with penalties ceasing upon proper denial or court filing.

Defines third-party contractors as health carriers subject to these requirements and specifies that denial notices must include specific reasons for denial to be considered valid denials.