Doctors and hospitals are condemning plans by UnitedHealthcare – the nation’s largest insurer – to retroactively deny emergency medical care coverage to members if UHC determines that the reason for the emergency medical care was not actually an emergency.
See also: Ireland's health service still facing problems after ransomware
In the future, if one of UnitedHealthcare’s 70 million members requests an emergency department visit, UnitedHealthcare will carefully consider what health issues led to the visit, the “intensity of diagnostic services performed” in the emergency department (ED), and the member’s underlying health conditions and outside circumstances. If UHC determines that the patient’s medical condition was not an emergency, it will provide “no or limited coverage,” depending on the member’s insurance plan.
See also: Electronic skin could monitor your health
Doctors and emergency hospitals have opposed the plan, saying it creates a dangerous phenomenon in which patients must assess their medical problems before seeking emergency medical care. It is obviously not possible for a patient to assess their own health.
See also: Women's health app launched by Nabla
The policy was supposed to go into effect on July 1. However, in an email, UHC now says it is delaying its implementation due to criticism it has received – at least until the end of the COVID-19.
Source of information: arstechnica.com
