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Committee hears emotional testimony on HB 758 as ambulance providers and insurers clash over reimbursement floor
Summary
HB 758, which would limit patient out‑of‑pocket ambulance balances and set a commercial reimbursement floor tied to Medicare, prompted lengthy testimony from ambulance operators asking for 400% of Medicare and insurers warning of premium increases and unintended market distortions.
The Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee on Tuesday heard hours of testimony on House Bill 758, a proposal to prohibit balance billing for ground ambulance transports and set a commercial reimbursement minimum tied to the Medicare allowable. Proponents argued the bill protects patients from surprise bills and would stabilize rural ambulance services; insurers warned that an imposed 400% Medicare floor would raise premiums, encourage out‑of‑network billing, and may be premature while other funding solutions progress.
Don Whalen, manager of Missoula Emergency Services and president of the Montana Ambulance Association, urged the committee to act to spare…
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