HB 2826 - DIGEST

     Finds that current administrative requirements placed upon providers and facilities by health carriers and other payers, including state purchased health care programs, are burdensome.  They have the unintended consequence of increasing health care costs and reducing time available for direct patient care.

     Declares that greater scrutiny of the value added by imposing administrative requirements, and greater focus on consistency of requirements across carriers and payers can help decrease health system costs and increase time available for direct patient care.

     Appropriates the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the biennium ending June 30, 2003, from the insurance commissioner's regulatory account to the insurance commissioner for the purposes set forth in this act.