MS HB340

Requires health benefit plans to reimburse insureds for services performed by any duly licensed physician or podiatrist within their lawful scope of practice, effective July 1, 2021.

Prohibits health benefit plans from discriminating against qualified physicians located in their geographic coverage area who meet participation terms and conditions, with notification of acceptance required within 60 days of application.

Allows health benefit plans to maintain different reimbursement rates for different physician specialties and permits quality control measures like gatekeeper systems if applied equally to all providers in the same class.

Applies provisions to all health benefit plans regardless of structure, including pre-paid coverage, provider networks, multiple employer welfare arrangements, and multiple employer trusts.

Grants the Commissioner of Insurance authority to enforce the act and seek injunctions against violating health insurers, while clarifying that providers committing fraud or illegal activity may be excluded from plans.