AHA supports proposed changes to NAIC's model network adequacy legislation

The AHA strongly supports proposed revisions to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ 1996 model state legislation for health plan network adequacy that would help address problems that consumers and health care providers face with respect to the adequacy and transparency of health plan provider networks, AHA told a NAIC committee today. “The AHA supports the proposed revisions, which would create a balanced solution amongst providers, health plans and hospitals to better protect the consumer from unexpected bills,” wrote Ashley Thompson, AHA vice president and acting senior executive for policy. However, AHA said the Model Act could be strengthened to ensure better access to covered services. It urged the NAIC committee to focus on active approval of networks prior to a product going to the market, the use of quantitative measures to determine network adequacy and regulation of tiered networks to prevent discriminatory network design.