Auto Accident, PIP & Medical Billing State Guides
Wyoming Auto Accident, PIP & Medical Billing Laws
Wyoming operates an At-Fault automobile insurance framework under Title 26 and Title 31 of the Wyoming Statutes. Motor vehicle liability is governed by modified comparative fault with a 51% bar under Wyo. Stat. § 1-1-109. Medical providers bill optional first-party Medical Payments (MedPay) and enforce statutory hospital liens on third-party settlements under Wyo. Stat. § 29-8-101.
Plain-language overview
At-Fault / Traditional Tort (Modified Comparative Fault & Wyoming Hospital Lien Act)
Wyoming is an at-fault tort liability state that does not mandate Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Medical costs resulting from motor vehicle collisions are funded through optional first-party Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage, private health insurance, or third-party automobile liability insurance. Under Wyo. Stat. § 1-1-109, an injured claimant may recover damages if their contributory fault is not more than 50%. Licensed hospitals secure unpaid inpatient and outpatient medical balances by filing statutory hospital liens with the county clerk pursuant to Wyoming Statutes Title 29, Chapter 8.
PIP and MedPay coverage
Optional Med Pay Coverage
MedPay is optional in Wyoming (commonly written in limits of $1,000 to $10,000+ per person), providing no-fault reimbursement for reasonable medical, surgical, dental, hospital, and ambulance expenses resulting from an automobile collision
Made Whole Doctrine
Under Wyoming equitable principles, an automobile insurer's right of subrogation for MedPay benefits is subject to the Made-Whole doctrine, preventing recovery from a third-party settlement until the insured's total losses are compensated
Assignment Of Benefits
Healthcare providers routinely obtain patient assignments of MedPay benefits for direct claims submission to automobile insurers
Medical fee schedule and reimbursement rules
Name
Reasonable and Customary Fee Standard
Rules
Wyoming does not enforce a statutory fee schedule table for motor vehicle accident medical bills outside of workers' compensation. Providers bill standard reasonable and customary charges prevailing in the local medical community for comparable care.
Cpt Basis
CPT/HCPCS itemized coding on standard CMS-1500 or UB-04 billing claims
Appeals and dispute resolution
Prompt Payment Statute
Under Wyo. Stat. § 26-15-124, claims for benefits under any insurance policy must be paid within 45 days after receipt of proof of loss. An insurer that fails to pay within 45 days without just cause is subject to interest at 10% per year.
Hospital Lien Act
Under the Wyoming Hospital Lien Act (Wyo. Stat. § 29-8-101 et seq.), any licensed hospital in Wyoming has a statutory lien upon claims, demands, and causes of action for personal injuries. To perfect the lien, the hospital must file a verified notice of lien in the office of the county clerk within 180 days after patient discharge, and mail a copy to the injured person and the liability insurer.
Dispute Forum
Wyoming District Court (or Circuit Court for claims up to $50,000) for civil recovery actions.
Claim and dispute deadlines
Deadlines can depend on the trigger event and may be affected by agency relief notices. Confirm the live rule before filing.
| Event | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Accident Notice | Notice to insurer as soon as reasonably practicable |
| MedPay Claim Submission | Submission within standard policy billing deadlines (typically 1 to 3 years) |
| Claim Payment Window | 45 calendar days from receipt of proof of loss (Wyo. Stat. § 26-15-124) |
| County Clerk Lien Filing | Must be filed with county clerk within 180 days of discharge (Wyo. Stat. § 29-8-102) |
| Statute of Limitations | 4 years from accident date for personal injury tort claims (Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)); 8 years for written contracts |
Documentation checklist
- Wyoming MedPay Claim Application Form
- Executed Assignment of Benefits (AOB) and medical records authorization
- Itemized CMS-1500 or UB-04 billing form with CPT/HCPCS codes and ICD-10 diagnostic coding
- Contemporaneous medical records, emergency intake documentation, operative reports, and imaging findings
- Filed Notice of Hospital Lien with county clerk recording stamp (Wyo. Stat. § 29-8-102)
- Insurer Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or written explanation of claim determination
Responsible agencies
- Wyoming Department of InsuranceStatewide Regulation of Auto Insurers, Rate Filings & Consumer Inquiries
Primary legal and regulatory sources
- Wyoming Statutes Title 29, Chapter 8 (Hospital Liens)Wyoming State Legislature · 2024
- Wyoming Statutes Title 26, Chapter 15, Section 124 (Claim to be Paid Within 45 Days)Wyoming State Legislature · 2024
This operational reference is educational, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Common questions
- What rules govern auto accident, pip & medical billing state guides in Wyoming?
- Wyoming operates an At-Fault automobile insurance framework under Title 26 and Title 31 of the Wyoming Statutes. Motor vehicle liability is governed by modified comparative fault with a 51% bar under Wyo. Stat. § 1-1-109. Medical providers bill optional first-party Medical Payments (MedPay) and enforce statutory hospital liens on third-party settlements under Wyo. Stat. § 29-8-101.
- What dispute deadlines should providers track in Wyoming?
- Accident Notice: Notice to insurer as soon as reasonably practicable; MedPay Claim Submission: Submission within standard policy billing deadlines (typically 1 to 3 years); Claim Payment Window: 45 calendar days from receipt of proof of loss (Wyo. Stat. § 26-15-124). Verify the trigger date, current agency notices, and any extension before acting.
- Which agencies administer these rules in Wyoming?
- The guide identifies Wyoming Department of Insurance. The correct agency depends on the plan and claim jurisdiction.