House File 202 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY T. OLSON Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the assignment of health care coverage and 2 dental care coverage benefits. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1495HH 83 5 av/nh/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 514C.24 ASSIGNMENT OF HEALTH 1 2 CARE AND DENTAL CARE COVERAGE BENEFITS. 1 3 1. A carrier as defined in section 513B.2; an organized 1 4 delivery system authorized under 1993 Iowa Acts, ch. 158, and 1 5 licensed by the director of public health; or a plan 1 6 established pursuant to chapter 509A for public employees, 1 7 shall not do either of the following: 1 8 a. Prohibit the assignment of health care coverage or 1 9 dental care coverage benefits to a health care provider or 1 10 dental care provider by a covered individual. 1 11 b. Refuse to directly reimburse a health care provider or 1 12 dental care provider pursuant to a valid assignment of health 1 13 care coverage or dental care coverage benefits after receipt 1 14 of written notice of the assignment. 1 15 2. An assignment of benefits as described in this section 1 16 shall not affect or limit the payment of benefits otherwise 1 17 payable under a health care benefit or dental care benefit 1 18 contract, policy, or plan and a covered individual shall not 1 19 be otherwise penalized for making such an assignment of 1 20 benefits. 1 21 3. A payment of benefits made under a health care benefit 1 22 or dental care benefit contract, policy, or plan prior to 1 23 receipt of written notice of assignment of the benefits shall 1 24 be without prejudice to the payor. This section shall not be 1 25 construed to prevent the reconciliation of erroneous or 1 26 duplicate payments made. 1 27 4. For the purposes of this section, unless the context 1 28 otherwise requires: 1 29 a. "Assignment of benefits" means the transfer of health 1 30 care coverage or dental care coverage reimbursement benefits 1 31 or other rights under an insurance contract, policy, or plan 1 32 by a covered individual to a health care provider or dental 1 33 care provider. 1 34 b. "Dental care provider" means a dentist, dental 1 35 hygienist, or dental assistant registered or licensed to 2 1 practice under chapter 153. 2 2 c. "Health care provider" means a hospital licensed 2 3 pursuant to chapter 135B, a person licensed under chapter 148, 2 4 148A, 148C, 149, 151, or 154, or a person licensed as an 2 5 advanced registered nurse practitioner under chapter 152. 2 6 EXPLANATION 2 7 This bill prohibits a carrier, organized delivery system, 2 8 or plan for public employees from refusing to allow a covered 2 9 individual to assign payment of health care coverage or dental 2 10 care coverage benefits to a health care provider or dental 2 11 care provider, or from refusing to directly reimburse a health 2 12 care provider or dental care provider, pursuant to a valid 2 13 assignment of such benefits upon receipt of written notice of 2 14 the assignment. 2 15 LSB 1495HH 83 2 16 av/nh/5