ACR applauds introduction of new patient-centric bill
The American College of Radiology (ACR) thanked Virginia Delegate Patrick A. Hope (D-47) for his part in the introduction of the Health Insurance Coverage Decisions and Medically Necessary Services Act (HB 1445) to the Virginia House of Delegates.
HB 1445 will “protect patients from insurer profit-driven coverage gaps and preserve patient and referring provider choice regarding where to receive care.”
This piece of legislation comes after Anthem, the nation’s largest Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, is slated to deny coverage starting March 1 for “virtually all medically-necessary imaging examinations” in Virginia, if performed in a hospital outpatient department.
“Barring patients from getting necessary imaging exams in an entire site of service like hospital outpatient departments is extreme and unprecedented,” said Virginia resident and ACR CEO William T. Thorwarth, MD, in a statement.
“It stands in the way of efforts to better coordinate care. It takes decisions out of the hands of patients and their providers. The Anthem policy interferes with shared decision making and integrated care.”
As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.