Missouri House and Senate pass prompt pay legislation for health care industry
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Missouri House and Senate pass prompt pay legislation for health care industry

Date: February 25, 2010
By: Alex Klingelhoeffer
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 1498 SB 636

Intro:  On the same day President Obama is hosted a health care summit, the Missouri legislature passed a measure which speeds up the insurance claim process.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap:  There was unanimous bipartisan support for insurance reform Thursday on both sides of the statehouse.

The House legislation sponsor, St. Louis County Republican Representative Tim Jones clarified the purpose of the prompt pay bill.

Actuality:  JONES.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "One of our goals in this as we worked through this legislation was number one remove the suspension provision which was causing a lot of the problems but number two was to work with the insurers to create just a better system overall."

The suspension provision had previously allowed insurance companies to keep claims unpaid instead of denying them. 

Jones said the bill would likely cut health care costs by streamlining the insurance claim system.

From the state Capitol, I'm Alex Klingelhoeffer

Intro:  With health care on the national agenda Thursday, both the House and Senate passed measures that would streamline the health insurance industry.
RunTime:  0:45
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: There was unanimous support for both prompt pay measures which faced the Missouri legislature.

Camdenton Republican Representative and medical doctor Robert Cooper said the 158 to nothing House vote is self-evident.

Actuality:  COOPE1.WAV
Run Time:  00:14
Description: "This was a bill that was compromised brought what the real issues were to the front and they were resolved by the two the provider industry and the insurance industry and I think it's an excellent piece of legislation."
The bill eliminates the option of health insurance companies to suspend claims, forcing companies to either pay or deny claims.

The bill's sponsor, St. Louis County Republican Representative Tim Jones said the bill would cut costs by streamlining the claim process.

From the State Capitol, I'm Alex Klingelhoeffer.