House advances ambulance reimbursement bill after committee amendment on telemedicine and rate publication

The Mississippi House of Representatives took up a committee substitute to House Bill 13-92, a measure to revise how ambulance services are paid for out‑of‑network emergency transports, and adopted an amendment that adds telemedicine coverage and requires insurers to publish recognized ambulance payment rates.

Supporters said the bill responds to problems counties and ambulance providers face collecting payment for emergency transports. The bill’s committee substitute would set a payment standard tied to a percentage of Medicare reimbursement for specific services, while the amendment offered on the floor would specifically: (1) allow telemedicine services provided by ambulance crews to be treated as covered treatment or assessment; (2) require the Mississippi Department of Insurance to publish recognized ambulance payment rates on its website within 10 days of an insurer or…