2. a. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a covered person may, through an assignment of benefits, assign to a service provider his right to receive reimbursement for any ambulance service rendered by the service provider, regardless of whether the service provider is under contract with the carrier to provide services to the covered person.

b. A service provider provided an assignment of benefits by a covered person, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, shall submit a copy of that assignment of benefits, or provide other notice of that assignment of benefits acceptable to the commissioner pursuant to regulation, to the payer with any claim for payment for any ambulance service rendered to the covered person.

c. The payer, based upon the claim and notice of the assignment of benefits submitted by the service provider, shall remit payment of the claim directly to the service provider within the timeframe established by P.L.1999, c.154 (C. 17B:30-23 et al.) for remitting payment on a claim submitted by electronic means, or by other than electronic means, as applicable, and provide written notice, within the same applicable timeframe, of the payment to the covered person.

d. If a covered person executes an assignment of benefits, and the service provider submits notice of that assignment of benefits with its claim for payment pursuant to subsection b. of this section, but the payer remits payment of the claim to the covered person, rather than the service provider, the claim shall not be considered paid. The payer shall, notwithstanding the incorrect payment of the claim to the covered person, remain liable for remitting payment of the claim to the service provider pursuant to the assignment of benefits.

e. Any overdue payment on the claim to the service provider pursuant to the assignment of benefits shall accrue interest at the rate established by P.L.1999, c.154 (C. 17B:30-23 et al.) for an overdue payment.

L.2007,c.194,s.2.