AHA, NILA speak out against ‘misleading’ UHC lab policy

The AHA and the National Independent Laboratory Association today flagged for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners deeply concerning actions by UnitedHealthcare to implement a “misleading” new benefit plan design that will limit access to needed laboratory services. “UHC’s Designated Diagnostic Provider (DDP) program, while couched in the terms of efficiency and quality, effectively creates a tiered benefit design under which patients would be unable to access services provided by in-network hospital and independent laboratories,” the groups wrote. “Under this benefit design, UHC would effectively eliminate coverage for diagnostic tests at all independent and hospital laboratories, including those within its network, unless the facilities agree to participate in the DDP program.” AHA previously asked that the federal government disallow UHC from implementing this program in federally regulated products.