AHA Releases New Resources Urging Oversight of Challenges with Certain Commercial Health Plan Practices

The AHA today released a number of new materials highlighting how some commercial health insurers, including those that sell Medicare Advantage plans, apply practices that can cause dangerous delays in care, result in undue burden on the health care workforce, and add billions of dollars in unnecessary costs to the health care system.

Resources

Report and Infographic

The AHA today released a new report and infographic that include:

• New findings from a survey of hospitals and health systems;
• Real-life examples of how inappropriate actions by some health insurers have impacted patients; and
• Policy recommendations to curtail inappropriate actions by commercial health insurers.

The report and infographic are highlighted in a press release that will be shared with the media today. Today’s materials build on a report the AHA released in July on this topic.

Letter to HHS and DOL

The AHA also urged Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Department of Labor Secretary Martin Walsh to take additional actions to ensure adequate oversight of commercial health plans.

“As health care providers and advocates on behalf of our patients, America’s hospitals and health systems are eager and ready to serve as partners to ensure that every eligible individual and family is enrolled in some form of comprehensive health care coverage,” the AHA wrote. “At the same time, we are increasingly concerned by the conduct of some commercial health insurance companies that are responsible for providing this coverage.” AHA said that health care coverage must work better for patients and the providers who care for them, and urged the Administration leaders to “take additional steps to ensure adequate oversight of commercial health plans, including those offering Medicare Advantage plans, this open enrollment season. Individuals and families should feel assured that the plan they choose during open enrollment will actually be there for them when they need care.”

Further Questions

If you have further questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.