AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES--EQUAL PAY FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

HB 5256 requires health insurance policies to pay nurse practitioners and physician assistants the same amount as physicians for covered primary care and mental health services they provide within their licensed scope. This applies when these providers work independently (billing directly as their own practice) rather than in certain group practices like federally qualified HMOs. Insurers cannot reduce payments to physicians to comply with this requirement. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.