The Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner is fining UnitedHealthCare one-hundred-thousand dollars.
The fine is due to United allegedly not following state law in making coverage decisions for treatments including drug rehab and detox.
“Rhode Island is committed to improving access to behavioral health care and substance use disorder treatment. Now more than ever, it is critical that our Administration hold health care entities accountable for ensuring parity between physical and behavioral health care. I thank the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner for their full review of this matter and for continuing to hold health insurance companies accountable when their practices are not consistent with Rhode Island law. Rhode Islanders deserve fair and adequate access to the care they need and our Administration will continue to ensure that happens, ”Governor Dan McKee said.
UnitedHealthCare is not admitting wrongdoing, but the Globe reports the health insurer will have to submit a corrective action plan and address the 67 previous cases where the state determined the guidelines they used to deny coverage or reimbursement were faulty. The time frame was between 2015 and 2018.
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