A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require health insurers direct payments for ambulance services to the ambulance service provider.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 58‑3‑253.  Payments for county or city ambulance service.
(a)	Every insurer providing or administering a health benefit plan covering persons in this State shall make payments for ambulance services covered by the health benefit plan directly to any county or city ambulance service provider proving the services.
(b)	As used in this section, "county or city ambulance service provider" means a city, county or other municipally owned, operated, or franchised ambulance service which is supplemented by city, county, or municipal funds.
(c)	As used in this section, "insurer" is as defined in G.S. 58‑3‑225(a)(5).
(d)	Insurers of health benefit plans are not required to make payment for services provided by a county or city ambulance service provider if the provider is not licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to do business as an ambulance service provider under North Carolina law."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2015, and applies to services provided on or after that date.