THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BREWSTER, SOLOBAY, RAFFERTY, FONTANA, GREENLEAF, WAUGH, McILHINNEY, BOSCOLA, SCHWANK, TARTAGLIONE, ALLOWAY AND FERLO, MAY 12, 2011

REFERRED TO BANKING AND INSURANCE, MAY 12, 2011  

AN ACT

Requiring insurers that approve claims for emergency services to

directly reimburse organizations that provide such services.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Emergency

Service Organization Direct Reimbursement Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Emergency service organization."  An ambulance service,

emergency medical service or river rescue service that is

located in this Commonwealth.

"Insurer."  An insurance company, association or exchange or

any other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the Insurance

Department.

Section 3.  Direct reimbursement to emergency service

organizations.

An insurer that approves a claim that includes the expense

charged by an emergency service organization shall make payment

of the claim that represents such expense directly to the

emergency service organization, unless the person who filed the

claim demonstrates to the insurer that he or someone on his

behalf already paid such expense.

Section 4.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.