Committee approves substitute to surprise ambulance-billing bill with higher Medicare multiplier

At a committee session of the 2026 Georgia Legislature, the panel approved a substitute to Senate Bill 462 that centers on surprise ambulance billing and includes provisions addressing excess profits.

Chairman Linson presented the substitute, saying, “We have a substitute for, Senate Bill 462. This is, the, surprise, ambulance billing bill.” He explained that the Senate removed earlier insurance-affordability language attached to the House version and that the substitute now combines surprise-billing provisions with Representative Reeves’ excess-profits language.

A committee member asked for a numerical clarification about what was increased. Chairman Linson said the earlier draft had used 300% of Medicare and that the Senate version sets the figure at 325% of Medicare: “It was 300% of Medicare, I think, in Chairman Powell’s original draft. And this is… 325%.”

The moderator then called for a motion to accept the substitute (LC 52 11 22 S). After a motion and second and a check for opposition, the substitute was approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: The substitute narrows the bill’s focus to surprise ambulance bills while raising the reimbursement cap tied to Medicare rates, a technical change that could affect provider payments and insurer liabilities. The committee’s approval advances the substitute toward floor consideration.

What’s next: The committee approved the substitute and placed the substitute on the supplemental calendar; no final floor action is recorded in this transcript.