Post by Logan on Mar 23, 2016 3:45:55 GMT -6
FARGO – A federal judge has ruled that the state of North Dakota overstepped its authority in passing a law to regulate air ambulance services in an attempt to prevent what legislators called price "gouging" against consumers.
Judge Daniel Hovland of U.S. District Court in Bismarck ruled in favor of Valley Med Flight, which argued that the state was trying to usurp federal law in creating a primary air ambulance carrier list.
In order to get on the list, air ambulance services effectively had to agree to become participating providers with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, a designation that means they agree to accept the insurer's reimbursement as full payment for a flight.
The Legislature passed the law in 2015 in response to complaints from consumers who were stuck with high air ambulance bills—20 bills submitted last year to state insurance regulators averaged more than $40,000 and left patients with an average out-of-pocket expense of $24,514.
Read more: www.inforum.com/news/3992771-judge-rejects-north-dakota-air-ambulance-law
Judge Daniel Hovland of U.S. District Court in Bismarck ruled in favor of Valley Med Flight, which argued that the state was trying to usurp federal law in creating a primary air ambulance carrier list.
In order to get on the list, air ambulance services effectively had to agree to become participating providers with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, a designation that means they agree to accept the insurer's reimbursement as full payment for a flight.
The Legislature passed the law in 2015 in response to complaints from consumers who were stuck with high air ambulance bills—20 bills submitted last year to state insurance regulators averaged more than $40,000 and left patients with an average out-of-pocket expense of $24,514.
Read more: www.inforum.com/news/3992771-judge-rejects-north-dakota-air-ambulance-law