Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4374 Primary Sponsor:Houck Committee Number:26 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Health insurance policy, subscriber to choose provider Residing Body:House Current Committee:Labor, Commerce and Industry Computer Document Number:GJK/20173JM.94 Introduced Date:19940111 Last History Body:House Last History Date:19940111 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Houck Neilson Witherspoon Richardson Hines Rudnick Whipper Jennings Harwell Snow Kirsh D. Wilder Askins Keyserling Harrelson Corning Mattos Breeland Wilkins Elliott Mattos Stuart Inabinett Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________
4374 House 19940111 Introduced, read first time, 26
referred to Committee
4374 House 19931208 Prefiled, referred to 26
Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO PERMIT AN INSURED SUBSCRIBER UNDER AN INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY TO CHOOSE HIS HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, REQUIRE THE COMPANY WRITING THE POLICY TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES EITHER BY DIRECT PAYMENT TO THE PROVIDER OR BY REIMBURSING THE SUBSCRIBER, AND PROVIDE THAT THIS ACT ALSO APPLIES TO HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS, IN WHICH CASE THE INSURED SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE IF THE COST OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED EXCEEDS THE LOWEST BIDDER.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an insured subscriber under an individual health insurance policy in force in this State must be permitted to choose the health care provider, who must be in good standing with his or its respective licensing authority, for any services rendered to the insured, and the company writing the policy must pay for the services to the extent allowed or required by the insurance contract and by law, either by direct payment to the provider or by reimbursing the subscriber, as is applicable under the circumstances.
This section also applies to health maintenance organizations, and the insured in this situation shall be required to pay the difference if the cost of the services provided exceeds the lowest bidder.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.