SECTION 627.42397. Coverage for air ambulance services.

• (1) As used in this section, the term:

  (a) “Air ambulance service” has the same meaning as provided in s. 401.23.

  (b) “Health insurer” means an authorized insurer offering health insurance as defined in s. 624.603.

  (c) “Reasonable reimbursement” means reimbursement that considers the direct cost to provide the air ambulance transportation service to the insured, the operation of an air ambulance service by a county which operates entirely within a designated area of critical state concern as determined by the Department of Economic Opportunity, and in-network reimbursement established by the health insurer for the specific policy. The term does not include the amount of billed charges for the cost of services rendered.
  (2) A health insurance policy must require a health insurer to provide reasonable reimbursement to an air ambulance service for covered nonemergency and emergency services provided to an insured in accordance with the coverage terms of the policy. Such reasonable reimbursement may be reduced only by applicable copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Payment in full by the insured of his or her applicable copayment, coinsurance, or deductible constitutes an accord and satisfaction of, and constitutes a release of, any claim for additional moneys owed by the insured to the health insurer or to any person or entity in connection with the air ambulance service.

History.-s. 1, ch. 2020-177.

Note

Note.-

A. Section 3, ch. 2020-177, provides that “[n]othing in this act shall be construed to give retroactive application or to impair any contract existing before or on [September 18, 2020,] or to otherwise restrict the ability of an air ambulance service, as defined in s. 401.23, Florida Statutes, to contract to provide nonemergency and emergency services.”

B. Section 5, ch. 2020-177, provides that “[i]f any provision of section 627.42397, Florida Statutes, or section 641.514, Florida Statutes, as created by this act, is determined to be invalid or inoperative for any reason, the remaining provisions thereof shall be deemed to be void and of no effect. To this end, the Legislature declares that it would not have enacted any of the provisions of section 627.42397, Florida Statutes, or section 641.514, Florida Statutes, individually and expressly finds them not to be severable.”

History.-s. 1, ch. 2020-177.

Note

Note.-

A. Section 3, ch. 2020-177, provides that “[n]othing in this act shall be construed to give retroactive application or to impair any contract existing before or on [September 18, 2020,] or to otherwise restrict the ability of an air ambulance service, as defined in s. 401.23, Florida Statutes, to contract to provide nonemergency and emergency services.”

B. Section 5, ch. 2020-177, provides that “[i]f any provision of section 627.42397, Florida Statutes, or section 641.514, Florida Statutes, as created by this act, is determined to be invalid or inoperative for any reason, the remaining provisions thereof shall be deemed to be void and of no effect. To this end, the Legislature declares that it would not have enacted any of the provisions of section 627.42397, Florida Statutes, or section 641.514, Florida Statutes, individually and expressly finds them not to be severable.”