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Committee fixes oversight to shorten insurers' overpayment recovery window for psychologists
Summary
SB 944 corrects an omission that left psychologists subject to a longer overpayment-recovery period than other health providers by bringing psychologist claims in line with a 12-month limit for insurers to seek overpayments; committee adopted an amendment to include HMOs and set an effective date for claims after Jan. 1, 2026.
The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee reported Senate Bill 944 favorably with committee substitute after sponsors said the bill corrects an omission that left psychologists subject to a longer insurer overpayment-recovery period than other providers.
Sponsor Senator Davis explained that, until a 2008 statutory change, the standard recovery period for all health-care providers was 30 months. A later change reduced the lookback period to 12 months for providers under specified chapters, but the chapter that governs psychologists (chapter 490 as cited in committee) was omitted. SB 944 would apply the 12-month overpayment recovery period to psychologist claims, aligning them with other health-care providers. The sponsor said the bill would also apply the overpayment provision to HMO claims and set the provision to apply to claims filed on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
The committee adopted amendment barcode 925,584, which added the HMO language and the effective-date provision. The Florida Psychological Association filed an appearance and was recorded as waiving in support. Senators recorded no debate and voted to report the bill favorably with committee substitute.
On roll call, senators recorded affirmative committee votes and the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute.
