JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – A nonprofit representing health insurance companies asserts that recent legislation regulating reimbursements for ambulance services is unconstitutional.

The Mississippi Association of Health Plans (MAHP) sued to block the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) from enforcing House Bill 1489 . Among other things, it mandates insurance companies to provide payment to ambulance services for certain treatments and sets standard reimbursement rates for health insurance policies.

In its 23-page lawsuit, MAHP asserts that the Mississippi Triage, Treat and Transport to Alternative Destination Act is too vague to be enforceable. As a result, MAHP stated that the law violates the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Citing Article 1 Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution, MAHP also writes that Mississippi did not have the legal authority to establish a reimbursement mandate. MAHP further explains that the directive as written does not benefit the public; it asserts that it will ultimately increase healthcare costs for Mississippians.

MAHP members include Amerigroup, CareSource, CVS Health, Cigna Healthcare and UnitedHealthcare. The nonprofit filed the lawsuit days before HB 1489 was set to go into effect.

MID declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation. The Mississippi Attorney General’s office did not comment before publication.

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