Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House adopts measure aimed at curbing balance billing and setting cost-based reimbursement for ground ambulance services
Summary
After lengthy testimony and committee consideration, the House adopted the Commerce Committee's recommendation on HB 316 to set a cost-based reimbursement framework for ground ambulance services and to restrict balance billing; supporters said it stabilizes providers, opponents warned of unintended consequences.
The New Hampshire House adopted HB 316 after extended debate and committee work on ground ambulance reimbursements and balance billing. The bill ties reimbursement for noncontracted insurers to a Department of Insurance cost-based schedule and seeks to eliminate surprise balance billing for ground ambulance transports, a practice that has been a growing concern for patients and ambulance providers.
Representative Stringham, speaking against the measure, warned that the method used in a cost study underlying the reimbursement figure artificially deflated costs by subtracting municipal support paid through property taxes. "They subtract any cost ... any money that they receive from cities and towns, like property taxes," Stringham said. He argued that design choice understates real cost differences among providers and could harm ambulance services.
Representative Turi and other proponents argued the bill represents a compromise carefully crafted by the Commerce Committee to reduce surprise bills and to create a payment standard that brings transparency to ambulance reimbursements. Supporters noted prior legislative steps in recent years expanded ability to bill and increased Medicaid reimbursement; HB 316 was presented as the next step to stabilize the sector and protect patients from balance billing.
Opponents — including several ambulance and municipal representatives — cautioned the bill risks shifting shortfalls to taxpayers or forcing levies on towns if reimbursement rates prove too low relative to providers' costs.
After debate the House adopted the committee recommendation on HB 316. The transcript records discussion of the cost-study methodology, concerns about unintended effects on small rural providers, and repeated pleas to find a path that both prevents surprise bills and sustains ambulance coverage across the state.
Ending: With the House adoption of HB 316 the state has set into motion statutory changes aimed at reducing surprise ambulance bills and implementing a cost-based reimbursement framework. Municipal officials and ambulance providers will continue to press for clarifications as the law is implemented.
