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Long committee hearing on HB 758 exposes deep divide: ambulance services seek 400% of Medicare while insurers warn of premium impacts
Summary
Ambulance operators and rural advocates urged the committee to prohibit balance billing and set a 400%‑of‑Medicare commercial reimbursement floor; insurers and some insurers' trade groups warned the proposal would push premiums higher and incentivize out‑of‑network behavior. The sponsor will offer technical amendments on HSA/HDHP interactions before the next session day.
A multi‑hour hearing on House Bill 758 laid out sharply divergent perspectives on surprise bills for ground ambulance rides and potential fixes to ensure rural emergency medical services remain viable.
Ambulance providers, emergency managers and rural advocates described growing reimbursement shortfalls, arguing that commercial insurers pay too little and that patients with commercial coverage are frequently left with large “balance” bills after emergency transports. Proponents asked the committee to prohibit balance billing and to set commercial payer minimums tied to Medicare — proponents recommended 400% of the Medicare allowable to offset low Medicare and Medicaid rates and to sustain…
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