AHA, Others Urge Anthem to Immediately Retract ED Coverage Changes

Hospitals continue to have 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, AHA and other hospitals groups told the insurer today. "These changes in coverage rules lack transparency for patients and providers, discourage patients from seeking appropriate and timely treatment, inappropriately place Anthem between patients and their clinicians, and make material – out of cycle – changes to existing contracts between insurers and hospitals," wrote AHA, America's Essential Hospitals, Association of American Medical Colleges, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Federation of American Hospitals, Premier healthcare alliance and Vizient, Inc. "We urge Anthem to retract these policies and work with our organizations to ensure your members receive the high-quality care they deserve."