ND HB1386

Legislative management shall study during 2011-12 interim whether steps can improve health care service providers' access to third-party payer reimbursement networks, including major medical, dental, and vision services.

Study shall examine whether allowing all health care providers into network systems and negotiating deeper discounts would improve patients' freedom of choice.

Study shall consider whether third-party payers should be able to deny provider contracts or limit contracts to exclude a provider's entire scope of practice.

Insurance department shall gather information on current practices, including whether health care providers are being denied contracts by insurance companies and third-party payers, with periodic reports to legislative management.

Legislative management shall report findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the sixty-third legislative assembly.