McCaskill: Anthem’s Modified ER Policy ‘isn’t going to cut it’

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today released the following statement after an announcement from Anthem Blue Cross that it will make modest changes to its emergency room policy after first announcing it would no longer cover emergency room costs for Missourians if the care is deemed non-emergent:

“For families in Missouri who are being asked to self-diagnose a medical emergency or risk getting saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in ER bills because of Anthem’s policy, this isn’t going to cut it. Anthem needs to take more meaningful action to change that reality and fully respond to my request for information underlying the rationale for this problematic policy.”

Last week, healthcare and emergency room costs in Missouri and across the country were the focus of a roundtable discussion with McCaskill, ER doctors, patient advocates, and community health workers in Kansas City.

McCaskill has made tackling rising healthcare costs in Missouri a top priority in the Senate—including emergency healthcare costs. She is demanding answers from Anthem after the insurance company announced it would no longer cover emergency room costs for Missourians if the care is deemed non-emergent. The company sent notices to its customers informing patients that “you’ll be responsible for ER costs when it’s NOT an emergency” – a change that could dramatically impact patients, who may no longer seek care in an emergency for fear it won’t be covered, and hospitals, who are obligated to provide care no matter the cost or circumstances.

Last year, McCaskill, the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sought answers from Envision Healthcare and its subsidiary EmCare Holdings, Inc. following reports of skyrocketing costs at emergency rooms run by EmCare. According to those reports, EmCare tripled the highest rate for ER visits at one hospital that was studied and allegedly pressured ER doctors to order expensive, unnecessary tests for patients. EmCare manages more than 10 hospitals in Missouri.