We are excited to announce that HB 628 has passed the House and Senate, and Governor Phil Bryant signed it into law last week. We are very thankful for your efforts to contact lawmakers and tell them the need to hold insurance companies accountable to issue prompt and accurate payments for reimbursement of services.
MSHIMA appreciates the close partnership and support of the Mississippi Hospital Association with this effort. Our work together helped to drive the point home with lawmakers and provided a unified front. One thing that we did not get into this year’s bill is accountability extending to our Medicare Advantage plans. But, this is a great step!
As a brief synopsis, this includes the following provisions:
- If health insurance claims are not paid on time, there will be a late fee given to insured.
- A written notice of claim must be given to the health maintenance company or insurance company within 30 days after an occurrence of any loss covered by the insurance policy.
- Upon receiving the claim, the insurer will provide the person that made a claim with the correct paperwork for proof of loss.
- Written proof of loss must be provided to the health maintenance company of insurance company within 90 days of the termination period for any policy with periodic payment subject to change upon the loss.
- Benefits due under the claims are overdue if not paid within 25 or 35 days, whichever applicable, after the insurer receives the clean claim containing necessary medical information.
- If claim is not denied, the insurer must pay provider or insured the greater of either: Interest on accrued benefits at 1.5% per month beginning the day after payment was due until settled OR Total claim amount by total number of days late by 1% each day until claim is settled.
This law will go into effect on July 1, 2019. Here is text from the full bill.
