Rep. Hall Introduces the Fair Claims Accountability Act

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Derrick Hall (D-Akron) this week introduced the Fair Claims Accountability Act, HB 891. This legislation establishes a Medical Claims Consumer Assistance Program (MCCAP) to provide services to consumers: assistance filing complaints, settling health insurance conflicts, tracking inquiries, educating patients about their rights and responsibilities, providing referrals, and more. HB 891 also establishes penalties for insurers when wrongful denials or insufficient coverage of a valid consumer claim occur. 

The Fair Claims Accountability Act aims to save Ohioans time and money by making medical care more affordable and setting up consumer protections that prevent insurers from denying legitimate claims. This legislation will ensure fair and appropriate penalties for insurers who violate these terms by requiring MCCAP to consider specific and multi-layered factors, such as the willfulness, impact, and cost of the violation.

“As legislators, our commitment is to our constituents. Ohioans continue to struggle with rising healthcare costs, and they have made clear to us that a sustainable solution should be one of our first priorities. The Fair Claims Accountability Act strengthens our ability to advocate for Ohio consumers and reduce the administrative burden that these wrongful denials create in the first place,” said Rep. Hall.