UnitedHealthcare delays ER coverage policy amid provider backlash

Amid significant backlash from providers, UnitedHealthcare is delaying its new emergency department coverage policy, which would allow the insurer to retroactively deny ED claims it determines are nonemergent.

The policy was set to take effect July 1 in fully insured commercial plans. A spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare said in a statement to Fierce Healthcare that the policy will be pushed back until at least the end of the national public health emergency period for COVID-19.

Provider groups including the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) slammed the country’s largest commercial insurer, especially for the timing of the announcement, which comes as the U.S. is still emerging from a pandemic that significantly decreased patient volumes.

Source: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/unitedhealthcare-delays-er-coverage-policy-amid-provider-backlash