awp asap

[Guest guest]

this looked interesting... maybe we need an AWP law in California

 

Another Victory for Chiropractic

 

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has upheld Kentucky's " any-willing-

provider " (AWP) laws, and ruled that states may pass similar laws requiring HMOs

and

insurance companies to open their networks and admit any health care providers -

including doctors of chiropractic - willing to abide by a network's terms and

conditions.

 

AWP laws began to appear in the mid-1990s, in response to complaints that

managed care organizations sometimes block people from seeing the doctors of

their

choice. Although the specifications vary from state to state, generally, AWP

laws

require HMOs or insurance companies to accept out-of-network health care

providers; in return, the provider must agree to the insurer's reimbursement

rates

and contract terms.

 

Currently, 20 states have AWP laws on the books. Kentucky has two statutes

that

prohibit health insurers from " discriminating against any (health care) provider

....

willing to meet the terms and conditions for participation established by the

insurer. "

The laws also require any health benefit plan that includes " chiropractic

benefits " to

permit any licensed chiropractor who agrees to abide by the plan's terms " to

serve as

a participating primary chiropractic provider. "