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The AHA today expressed deep concern to UnitedHealthcare regarding its recent policy announcement to allow for the retroactive denial of coverage for emergency-level care in facilities.

“This policy would put patients’ health and wellbeing in jeopardy, and we urge you to reverse the policy immediately,” AHA wrote today in a letter to UnitedHealthcare. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency. Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care. This is dangerous for patients’ health at any time, but is particularly unsafe in the midst of a public health emergency.”

In addition, AHA urged UHC to evaluate whether some of its other policies that restrict enrollees’ coverage for a wide range of hospital outpatient department services may contribute to access challenges for patients.

To read the full AHA letter, click here.

FURTHER QUESTIONS
If you have questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.