Committee advances ambulance balance-billing bill after debate over state-plan exclusions
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Summary
A House Ways and Means General Fund committee advanced House Bill 400, which would prohibit balance billing for ambulance services and set minimum insurer reimbursements; committee discussion focused on exclusions for state plans PHIP and SEIB and an estimated $600,000-plus general‑fund impact.
A House Ways and Means General Fund committee advanced legislation aimed at limiting surprise bills from ambulance providers on Feb. 26, as members debated which insurance plans the measure would cover and the cost to the state general fund.
House Bill 400, identified in the clerk’s reading as sponsored by Representative Oliver Brown, would prohibit balance billing by emergency medical-service providers and set a minimum reimbursement rate for insurers. The bill sponsor told the committee the substitute is intended to end balance billing for Alabamians: "That's what we're attempting to do is get rid of balance billing for Alabamians." The sponsor asked for a favorable recommendation after answering committee questions.
Committee members pressed the sponsor on which plans would be covered. The sponsor and members clarified that the committee substitute left the state employee plans PHIP and SEIB out of the measure; as presented to this committee, people covered only by PHIP or SEIB would not be protected from balance billing and could be required to pay any billed balance out of pocket. A committee member noted the committee’s substitute removes PHIP and SEIB even though the sponsor said the bill had passed the Senate earlier that day with those plans included.
The chair observed that the committee-level change creates a line-item impact to the General Fund, estimating "about a little over $600,000" for the current fiscal calculation. Committee discussion framed the item as a fiscal responsibility for Ways and Means because of that estimated General Fund impact rather than as an insurance-regulation change.
After discussion, members moved and seconded the measure and approved a favorable (final) report by voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the clerk stated the bill "receives a final report." The bill will proceed to the next step in the legislative process with the committee’s favorable recommendation.
Next steps: HB 400 was given a final report and will move forward off committee calendars; any changes to PHIP or SEIB coverage would need to be restored in later action if the sponsor’s earlier Senate language is to be matched.