Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill in Ohio's General Assembly aimed at stopping Anthem and other health insurers from denying coverage to members using the emergency department under certain circumstances, cleveland.com reports.
Here are four things to know about House Bill 536.
1. The bill concerns an ED policy change Anthem rolled out in Ohio at the beginning of 2018. Under Anthem's ED policy, the insurer reviews diagnoses after members' ED visits. If their condition is determined to be nonemergent, Anthem may not cover their ED claims.
2. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Alicia Reece, D-Cincinnati, would prohibit Anthem's policy change from affecting individual and employer policies, in addition to managed Medicaid products. Anthem's current policy does not apply to Medicaid managed care members.
3. Should the bill pass, Anthem's policy would be considered noncompliant in Ohio. Rep. Reece told cleveland.com insurers using similar policies "would not be able to get government contracts, tax credits, tax abatements, all of the things to do business in the state."
4. Anthem and the Ohio Association of Health Plans did not respond to cleveland.com's request for comment.
For more information on Anthem's ED policy in Ohio, click here.