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Committee clears bill removing employee cost share, adds amendment to ban balance billing
Summary
Senate Bill 2160 was advanced and re-referred to appropriations with committee action to keep premiums fully paid by the state; the committee also adopted language to prohibit balance billing and later passed the bill as amended, 6-0.
Bismarck — The Senate Human Services Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 2160 and re-refer it to appropriations after members agreed not to add an employee cost share and to adopt an amendment that prevents balance billing by providers.
Committee members discussed the bill’s benefit design and whether employees should pay a portion of the premium. Committee members reported conversations with appropriators led to the decision that, if no cost share is required, the bill can remain as written and the benefit will remain a fully paid premium for the employee.
Senator Rohrs moved the committee recommendation (do pass and re-refer to Appropriations). The motion was seconded and, on roll call, Senators Lee, Weston, Rohrs, Hogan, Van Osteen and Clemens voted aye; the committee approved the motion 6-0.
Following the initial committee action, members and staff discussed an amendment offered by Crystal Bartuska to clarify provider billing language and prohibit balance billing for covered services. Committee members said the amendment would clarify that a preferred provider arrangement may not restrict a covered person from receiving covered services at the contracted provider rate and would prevent a provider from billing the patient the difference between the contracted amount and billed charges (balance billing).
The committee adopted Bartuska’s amendment and later voted to do pass the amended measure. The do-pass-as-amended motion, moved by Senator Rohrs and seconded by Senator Weston, carried on a 6-0 roll call (Lee, Weston, Rohrs, Hogan, Van Osteen, Clemens all voting aye). Committee members noted there was no fiscal note during the committee votes. Senator Clemens agreed to serve as carrier for the amended bill.
The bill will be reconsidered by the appropriations committee with the amendment that specifies providers must accept the contracted rate for covered services and may not charge the difference to covered persons.
