Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) this week asked Health and Human Secretary Alex Azar and Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to review whether Anthem or any other health plan’s emergency department coverage policies violate the prudent layperson standard. “As you know, patients must be able to seek emergency care without fearing their health insurance company will require prior authorization or deny their claims,” the senators wrote. “Patients should never be in a position of correctly diagnosing their specific emergency medical condition before seeking professional medical help.” In a letter to Anthem this week, AHA and other hospital groups expressed “serious concerns that Anthem's coverage policies for outpatient imaging and emergency care services are detrimental to patients, diminishing access to care and driving care location based on the lowest cost provider.” 

Related News Articles

Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 15 issued a proposed rule that would increase Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system…
Headline
The AHA July 2 expressed support for the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 3890), bipartisan legislation that would add 14,000 Medicare-funded…
Headline
The House July 3 voted 218-214 to pass the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which enacts many of President Trump’s legislative…
Headline
The House has begun consideration of the Senate-passed version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). This continues to be a fluid…
Headline
The Senate narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) on July 1 by a 50-50 tally, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.…
Headline
The AHA June 29 sent a letter to senators urging them to amend the budget reconciliation bill before its final passage in the Senate. The Senate version of the…