If passed, the ballot initiative, proposed by Rapid Hills, S.D.-based Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center orthopedic surgeon Stephen Eckrich, MD, would require insurers to accept claims for any provider that meets the insurer’s standards. In South Dakota, inability to find an in-network provider close to home can force patients to drive long distances — in the hundreds of miles — to find a provider, according to Dr. Eckrich.
Twenty-seven states already have a form of “any willing provider” law, which requires broader provider inclusion in health insurance networks, though research shows that “any willing provider” laws offer choice at the risk of running up higher health costs, according to the report.
More articles on payer issues:
New York requires health insurers to cover ostomy supplies, equipment
HHS reconsiders 2015 PPACA enrollment goal
10 non-Medicaid expansion states with largest coverage gaps
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
