HB 551 Summary

• Commissioner of Insurance must develop a uniform hospital claims form by January 1, 2015, not exceeding three pages, with input from health insurance issuers, consumer groups, and public meetings.

• Every health insurance issuer providing benefits for hospital services must use and accept only the uniform hospital claims form for all hospital service reimbursement claims starting January 1, 2015.

• Form must be made available electronically by the Department of Insurance and health benefit plans, and should consider federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services forms and national standards.

• Amends Section 83-9-13 to require insurance companies providing hospital benefits paid directly to patients to use the new uniform form instead of existing UB-82 or HCFA Form 1500 claim forms.

• Effective date: July 1, 2014.