Rep. Huneycutt files bill in North Carolina House to set ambulance reimbursement rates

A new bill filed by State Rep. Cody Huneycutt in the North Carolina House seeks to establish minimum reimbursement standards for emergency medical transportation services, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 489 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Insurance Coverage Emergency Ambulance Trans.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill mandates that health benefit plans must establish a minimum reimbursement rate for emergency medical transportation services provided by out-of-network ambulance providers. This rate must be at least 100% of the rate set by local authorities or, if not set, based on either 400% of the Medicare rate or the provider’s billed charges, whichever is lower. Additionally, insurers must pay ambulance providers directly and cannot impose higher cost-sharing on covered persons beyond $100 or 10% of the reimbursement rate. The policy is effective Oct. 1, 2025, for contracts and services from that date forward.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Donny Lambeth proposed the most bills (32) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Huneycutt graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2014 with a BA.

Huneycutt, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 67th House district, replacing previous state representative Clayton Sasser.