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HB 1185FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026dead

Proposed Rules for Emergency Health Care Billing and Insurance Jurisdiction

Original title: Health Care Services Jurisdiction and Reimbursement

March 13, 2026

Companion · SB 1086same policy, Senate version

health care insurance legal jurisdiction billing emergency services civil practice and procedure

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The Frame

What this does

If enacted, this legislation would have prevented patients from being caught in the middle of payment disputes between doctors and insurance companies for emergency care, while allowing doctors to sue insurers directly for payment.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Patients

Patients would be protected from collection attempts for costs owed by their insurance providers for emergency services.

Health care providers

Providers would be prohibited from billing patients for insurer-owed amounts and would be authorized to pursue legal action against insurers for payment.

Insurers and HMOs

Insurers and HMOs would be subject to Florida court jurisdiction for coverage disputes and potential lawsuits for the value of emergency services rendered to their policyholders.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill would have prohibited health care providers from billing patients for emergency services that should be covered by their insurance or health maintenance organization (HMO). It also aimed to expand the authority of Florida courts to hold out-of-state insurance companies accountable for coverage disputes involving emergency care provided in Florida.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would this bill have stopped me from receiving a 'surprise bill' for emergency care?

Yes, the bill would have prohibited providers from billing patients for amounts that are the responsibility of the patient's insurer or HMO.

What happens if my insurance company is based in another state?

The bill would have allowed Florida courts to exercise over out-of-state insurers if they provide coverage to employees in Florida or to patients receiving emergency services in Florida.

What is 'quantum meruit' in this context?

It is a legal claim that would allow a doctor or hospital to sue an insurance company to recover the 'reasonable value' of the emergency services provided, even if the provider does not have a contract with that insurer.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Expansion of Court Jurisdiction

The bill attempted to broaden the reach of Florida courts over out-of-state insurance entities, specifically targeting those covering Florida employees or patients receiving emergency care in the state.

Florida Legislature

Connected Entities

organizationCivil Justice & Claims Subcommittee“Committee of referral.”Map →

organizationHealth & Human Services Committee“Committee of referral.”Map →

organizationInsurance & Banking Subcommittee“Committee of referral.”Map →

organizationFlorida Legislature“The legislative body considering the bill.”Map →

organizationHealth Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee“The committee where the bill was referred and ultimately died.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy50
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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