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Committee gives narrow do-pass recommendation to surprise-billing change to reimbursement method
Summary
Senate Bill 512, amending the Surprise Billing Protection Act to change how provider reimbursements are calculated and removing the law’s sunset provision, received a 5–4 committee do-pass recommendation.
Senate Bill 512, which would amend the state’s Surprise Billing Protection Act to change the method for calculating out-of-network provider reimbursements and remove the law’s sunset date, received a narrow “do pass” recommendation from the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee on Feb. 28.
Senator Lopez presented the bill and introduced an Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) official who described the amendment as a technical change to reimbursement calculations. The witness told the committee the 2019 law has protected hundreds of New Mexicans from surprise out-of-network emergency bills and that SB 512 would modify reimbursement methodology and make the statute permanent by removing its sunset provision.
Committee discussion was brief; no public opposition was recorded in the hearing. Senator Figueroa moved a do-pass recommendation and Senator Jadimel seconded. The committee recorded five votes in favor and four opposed, producing a 5–4 do-pass recommendation.
Ending: SB 512 now proceeds to the Senate floor with a narrow committee recommendation. The Office of Superintendent of Insurance provided technical explanation to the committee; additional debate may occur when the bill reaches the floor.
