CONNECTICUT, USA — Anthem, a major Connecticut-based insurance company, reversed course this week on a controversial rate cut that was originally planned to take effect Oct. 1.
Following the decision, several elected state officials commended Connecticut’s News Station for its potential influence on the outcome.
It was anticipated that the scheduled cut would affect thousands of children in Connecticut with special needs; the move was being widely criticized by therapy providers and the families it would have impacted.
FOX61 reporter Matt Caron learned of the expected cut days before it would have occurred and told the story of individuals whose lives would be negatively altered. Anthem responded and decided to roll back the 30-65% provider reimbursement rates, potentially as a result of the outcry.
Caron reports that if the cuts had gone into effect, they would have significantly decreased the rates Anthem reimburses some therapy providers for essential special needs services such as speech and feeding.
On Thursday, multiple Connecticut state senators praised FOX61’s reporting as well as Anthem’s choice to make "the right decision."
State Sen. Lisa Seminara (R-8th District) and state Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-35th District) issued a statement supporting Anthem’s reversal. Seminara serves as the state’s ranking senator on the Committee of Children, while Gordon is a medical doctor and member of the Public Health Committee.
RELATED: Rate increases sought by insurance companies should be rejected: Connecticut Attorney General
“Those cuts, starting on Oct. 1, would have negatively impacted therapy professionals for essential special needs services like speech and feeding. Those cuts would have limited access to care and forced families to pay more money for services. Thanks to excellent reporting by FOX61, Anthem has made the right decision to roll back the provider reimbursement rate cut,” the joint statement said.
Both Seminara and Gordon say they will be following up with Anthem regarding the decision to get further clarity on its impact on professionals and services.
Anthem responded to an inquiry from FOX61 this week and said, “After further evaluation of speech therapy coding, we will continue to reimburse speech therapists at a fee-for-service rate instead of the proposed Oct. 1 rate change.”
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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