2-18-716. Hold harmless. (1) If a covered person receives services from a non-Montana hospital-controlled out-of-network air ambulance service for an emergency medical condition, an insurer or health plan shall assume the covered person's responsibility, if any, for amounts charged in excess of allowed amounts for covered services and supplies, applicable copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

(2) An insurer or health plan that assumes a responsibility pursuant to subsection (1) shall notify the air ambulance service of that assumption no later than the date the insurer or health plan issues payment under subsection (4).

(3) If an air ambulance service receives notice pursuant to subsection (2), with the exception of amounts owed for applicable copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, the air ambulance service may not:

(a) bill, collect, or attempt to collect from the covered person for the responsibility assumed under subsection (1);

(b) report to a consumer reporting agency that the covered person is delinquent on the responsibility assumed under subsection (1); or

(c) obtain a lien on the covered person's property in connection with the responsibility assumed under subsection (1).

(4) (a) An insurer or health plan is responsible for payment or denial of a claim within 30 days after receipt of a proof of loss, except as provided in 33-18-232(1). Within the timeframe provided in this subsection (4)(a), the insurer or health plan shall notify the covered person of the amount of deductible, coinsurance, or copayment that is the covered person's responsibility to pay.

(b) The insurer or health plan responsible under subsection (1) shall make payment based on:

(i) the billed charges of the air ambulance service;

(ii) another amount negotiated with the air ambulance service; or

(iii) the median amount the insurer or health plan would pay to an in-network air ambulance service for the services performed.

(5) If after payment is made under subsection (4) the insurer or health plan and air ambulance service dispute whether any further payment obligation exists, the insurer or health plan and air ambulance service shall enter into the dispute resolution process set forth in 2-18-718 through 2-18-720. After the independent dispute resolution process is exhausted, the aggrieved party may pursue any available remedies in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(6) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "emergency medical condition" means a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, so that a person who possesses knowledge of health and medicine could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in:

(i) placing the health of the individual or, with respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy;

(ii) serious impairment to bodily functions; or

(iii) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part; and

(b) "insurer" means a health insurance issuer as defined in 33-22-140 and includes issuers of health insurance under Titles 2 and 20.

(7) Sections 2-18-715 through 2-18-720 do not apply if a covered person used an air ambulance membership subscription, as provided in 50-6-320, for the services provided by the air ambulance service.