The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) is pushing back against UnitedHealthcare over changes to its reimbursement policy for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Specifically, UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer, is cutting reimbursement by 15% for claims submitted by CRNAs when those providers are not supervised by a physician anesthesiologist. For ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the policy shift is an important and potentially disruptive … [Read more...]
Major Insurers Promise to Ease ASC Payment Pain Point: Prior Authorization
A group of major U.S. health insurers on June 20 announced a slate of voluntary reforms aimed at streamlining the prior-authorization process. The move could eventually reduce administrative headaches for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), which have had to navigate an increasing volume of payer red tape in recent years. The initiative, led by AHIP and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, includes commitments from Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Cigna and dozens of other health plans. The … [Read more...]