Health insurers; to set a minimum reimbursement rate for ambulance services that are out-of-network.

SB 51 regulates how health insurers reimburse emergency ground ambulance services in Alabama, aiming to protect individuals covered by health plans. It establishes minimum reimbursement rates for both in-network and out-of-network providers, using a percentage of the Medicare rate as a benchmark. A key provision prohibits "surprise billing" by ensuring that the combined payment from the insurer and the enrollee's standard in-network cost-sharing is considered payment in full, preventing providers from billing patients for additional amounts. The bill also requires ambulance providers to submit annual financial reports and mandates a study on its effects on service access before its scheduled repeal in 2029.