Senate approves measure capping out-of-network ambulance reimbursements
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Summary
SB 462 passed the Senate to limit surprise out-of-network ambulance bills by capping reimbursements at 3.25 times the Medicare rate and restricting patient cost-sharing; the measure passed after committee report and floor consideration.
The Georgia Senate on Feb. 18 passed Senate Bill 462, described on the floor as a consumer-protection measure aimed at preventing runaway out-of-network ambulance charges after 911 responses.
Sponsor Senator (30) presented the bill as the state’s “patient consumer protection act” for ambulance services, noting patients do not choose ambulance providers in emergencies. The sponsor said the bill would cap reimbursement at 3.25 times the Medicare rate so that a basic life-saving transport that Medicare values at roughly $250 would be about $800 under the cap, while advanced life-support transports would be capped proportionally (the sponsor referenced a cap around $1,700 in debate).
Committee on Health and Human Services reported the bill favorably. The Senate agreed to the committee report, ordered the main question and passed the measure on the floor; the transcript records passage but does not provide a clear roll-call tally in the floor reading. Supporters said the change will reduce surprise billing and align insurer-provider reimbursements; no floor record of substantive amendments was made during the reading.
The bill’s caption signals changes to Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated concerning insurance coverage for out-of-network ambulance transportation services, minimum allowable reimbursement rates, and limits on patient copayments or deductibles.
SB 462 will proceed through enrollment and transmittal steps. Implementation will involve coordination between state insurance regulators, emergency medical services providers and payers to set and apply the new reimbursement standards.
