By Jenny Deam
Updated: August 6, 2018 10:01am
Houston Chronicle
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will begin a controversial new program Monday in which it will not pay any expenses for an out-of-network emergency room visit if it is later determined the patient should have gone elsewhere for treatment.
The measure was originally set to roll out June 4, but vigorous complaints from the public and physicians, as well as concerns from the Texas Department of Insurance, delayed it for 60 days of further review.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas officials and TDI confirmed late last week that the deeply contentious program will now launch and that any sticking points have been resolved.
The new measure is expected to affect about 500,000 Texans with Blue Cross and Blue Shield health maintenance organization (HMO) plans.