The New Hampshire Insurance Department reported commercial health insurer reimbursements for substance use disorder were lower than reimbursements paid by Medicare, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
Tyler Brannen, a department health policy analyst, said low reimbursements may impede patients' access to substance abuse treatment services, as providers are not being sufficiently compensated. This results in a shortage of alcohol and drug counselors.
The department is continuing to examine how Indianapolis-based Anthem, Quincy, Mass.-based Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna, Boston-based Minuteman and Lewiston, Maine-based Community Health Options reimburse substance abuse services.
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