health insurance; surprise billing; disputes

SB 1626 requires Arizona health insurers to include standardized notices about dispute resolution for "surprise" out-of-network medical bills in patient billing statements. It directly affects patients who receive unexpected out-of-network care and healthcare providers billing for such services. The law mandates that insurers provide clear written notices explaining how to dispute these bills, and directs the state department to post online resources about what constitutes a surprise bill and how to resolve disputes. This applies only to bills not covered by the federal No Surprises Act, ensuring Arizona’s process complements existing federal protections.