UnitedHealthcare Scraps Emergency Care Coverage Rule

On June 10, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) announced it would delay implementing a new policy that would have retroactively denied coverage of emergency department visits. The policy was initially scheduled to take effect on July 1, but has been delayed until at least the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The AANS and the CNS joined a coalition effort led by the American College of Emergency Physicians objecting to this policy and urging UHC to rescind this policy permanently. Additionally, the neurosurgical groups joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in sending a similar letter.

Subsequently, as part of the No Surprises Act IFR, the Biden Administration will now outlaw policies that let insurers retroactively deny emergency department claims.