State News

Neary all Minnesota health plans have agreed to continue waiving copayments related to the care of COVID-19 through September 30, reports the West Central Tribune. Minnesota health plans had been required to cover testing without cost sharing but had agreed to waive copays for hospitalizations until June 1. The agreement removes the potential that 570 patients now in the hospital with the illness would have to face thousands of dollars in medical bills on top of lost wages. The Minnesota Department of Health has also announced $97.6 million in healthcare grants across the state, to pay for additional staffing, PPE and other expenses associated with preparation for the pandemic

Wondering if he had COVID-19, Colorado resident Timothy Regan called the Denver Health nurse hotline to describe his symptoms. A nurse listened to his symptoms and instructed him to immediately go to the hospital's urgent care facility. Regan was evaluated in the emergency room for COVID-like symptoms, was given several tests and an inhaler and was sent home. Within a few weeks Regan's symptoms began to subside but then he was hit with a $3,278 bill for his ER visit.

Timothy Regan went to the ER in April after experiencing a severe cough, low-grade fever, and chest pain. Despite having COVID-like symptoms, he was not given a COVID-19 test because they were in short supply at the time. He was sent home after his chest X-ray and electrocardiogram results were normal and told to quarantine for 2 weeks as a precautionary measure. In this edition of Kaiser Health News’ Bill of the Month, we learn that Timothy was billed $3,278 for the ER visit, of which the insurer paid $1,042 and Timothy was responsible for $2,236. Since Timothy's ER visit, many insurers have announced waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing-related visits and treatment to remove barriers to care. After an appeal, Timothy’s insurer agreed to bill Timothy as a COVID-19 patient and waive all cost-sharing for the ER visit, giving Timothy his happy ending.

Georgia’s recent budget plans have been overturned by the overwhelming financial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities outlined $172 million in budget reductions for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget cuts are alarming to patient advocates as the coronavirus crisis has sparked new mental health stresses. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 56 percent of Americans reported that anxiety or stress related to the pandemic has led to at least one negative mental health outcome.

In Tennessee, anyone who wants a test can get one, and the state will pick up the tab. The guidance has evolved to “when in doubt, get a test,” and the state started paying for it in April, according to Kaiser Health News. Tennessee is doing more than double the minimum number of tests needed to control its outbreak, an NPR analysis states. Rather than private labs billing various health insurance plans, the state is picking up the tab at $100 per test.

Health insurance companies in Oklahoma will be required to cover mental health and substance use disorders the same way they cover physical ailments under a new state law, reports The Oklahoman. Despite federal requirements passed in 2008, many states still struggle to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use treatment. This inequality can come in the form of fewer in-network physicians or unequal reimbursement rates for behavioral health compared to physical health. 

As a state that runs its own health insurance marketplace, Idaho has tools at its disposal to help consumers enroll in comprehensive coverage, but has decided not to wield all of them, reports the CHIR blog. While Idaho has tried to lower enrollment barriers, it has also left large barriers in place. Rather than establishing a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), Idaho’s insurance department is encouraging uninsured consumers to enroll in short-term plans. These skimpy plans are unlikely to be sufficiently protective if residents contract COVID. 

Most Illinois hospitals scored well in the Leapfrog Group’s latest report on patient safety, reports Illinois Radio Network. Forty-three percent of Illinois hospitals received an ‘A’ grade, which was significantly better than the national average– putting Illinois in the top 10 nationwide. According to the Leapfrog Group, hospitals with high marks tend to share certain traits, such as preventing medication errors by having the right technology in place or implementing strong staffing policies related to nursing and physicians staffing the ICU. The study considered 28 different factors when assigning grades, including policies, procedures and patient outcomes.

Indiana passed legislation requiring healthcare providers to give a “good faith” cost estimate to consumers five days before they deliver care, according to a Health Affairs blog that looked at how states are responding to the COVID crisis. The law also requires out-of-network providers delivering services in facilities that participate in health plan networks to accept the in-network negotiated rate unless consumers sign a statement consenting to the out-of-network charge.