HB 961

AN ACT TO REQUIRE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES TO RETURN OVERPAYMENTS TO PATIENTS WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIMEFRAME; TO DEFINE "OVERPAYMENT" TO MEAN ANY PAYMENT RECEIVED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR MEDICAL FACILITY FROM OR ON BEHALF OF A PATIENT THAT EXCEEDS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED BY THE PATIENT FOR SERVICES RENDERED, AFTER FINAL ADJUDICATION BY ALL APPLICABLE PAYERS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FAILURE OF A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR MEDICAL FACILITY TO REFUND AN OVERPAYMENT WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIMEFRAME REQUIRED MAY BE SUBJECT TO ENFORCEMENT BY THE MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 75-24-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.