|
Texas EMS Alliance
Statement on the Texas Legislature's Passage of SB 2476
The Texas Legislature’s SB 2476 will serve as a model for the U.S. Congress to utilize as it considers the future of EMS out-of-network billing at the federal level.
Austin, Texas – May 19, 2023 – The Texas EMS Alliance (TEMSA) applauds the 88th Texas Legislature for its work to create the nation’s model framework for out-of-network EMS billing through SB 2476.
Guided by the leadership of Senator Judith Zaffirini and Representative Tom Oliverson, MD, TEMSA and the Texas Association of Health Plans joined together to help shape and support SB 2476. The bill will remove patients from the middle of out-of-network billing disputes.
“The work by Senator Zaffirini and Representative Oliverson in the Texas Legislature to solve the EMS billing issue will give the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee in Washington a tool to solve the issue at the federal level,” Brent Smith, TEMSA’s president and the chief executive officer of Hopkins County Hospital District, said. “SB 2476 ensures that local government officials, who make decisions on how to fund EMS operations in their communities, retain oversight and accountability. The legislation features safeguards to contain health care spending and shield patients from unexpected costs.”
SB 2476 will prohibit the balance billing of patients for out-of-network services by ground EMS. In exchange, commercial health plans will be directed to reimburse out-of-network ground EMS agencies at the rates set by local governmental entities. For communities that lack rates set by the local governmental entity, health plans will be directed to reimburse ground EMS agencies at the lesser of the billed charge or 325 percent of Medicare.
The Texas Senate passed the bill on May 2, 2023, and the Texas House followed suit on May 19. SB 2476 is now on its way to Governor Greg Abbott for his signature.
| 
