MS HB315

Creates new sections 83-41-221 through 83-41-231 of Mississippi Code to establish the Patient Choice Act of 2020, effective July 1, 2020.

Entitles insured persons to reimbursement for services performed by duly licensed physicians or podiatrists when the health benefit plan covers those services, and allows such providers to participate in health benefit plans without discrimination based on location or willingness to accept plan terms.

Prohibits health benefit plans from directly or indirectly prohibiting or limiting qualified physicians willing to accept the plan's operating terms, fees, utilization regulations, and quality standards from participating, while allowing plans to maintain quality measures and control costs equally across all providers in the same class.

Clarifies that plans may set different reimbursement rates for different physician specialties, are not required to include all physicians in a locale, and may utilize gatekeeper systems as long as applied uniformly; applies to all health benefit plans including pre-paid coverage and multiple employer arrangements.

Amends existing code sections (83-41-203, 83-41-211, 83-41-213, 83-41-215) to update terminology and add fraud/illegal activity exclusions for optometrists, mental health providers, nurse practitioners, and chiropractors.