The Senate Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry held a public hearing this last week on legislation that would curb pre authorization abuses by insurance companies.
Senate Bill 373 prohibits health plans from requiring pre authorization for the first twelve chiropractic, physical therapy, occupation therapy or speech therapy visits or for the non pharmacologic management of pain provided to individuals with chronic pain for the first 90 days of treatment. The bill also prohibits the application of co pays for chiropractic, physical therapy, occupation therapy or speech therapy services that are greater than co pays for primary care.
WCA members, Rebecca Lahman with Lahman Chiropractic and Dr. Jason Mackey with LSM Chiropractic, testified on the bill on behalf of the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association.
“It is incredibly valuable for WCA members like Rebecca Lahman and Dr. Mackey to have the opportunity to tell policy makers about how needless pre authorization requirements impede access to timely patient care,” said John Murray, WCA Executive Director John Murray.
Assembly Bill 368, the companion bill to SB 373, had a public hearing several weeks ago in the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long Term Care. Rebecca Lahman and Dr. Mackey also testified at that hearing on behalf of the WCA.
The WCA will continue to advocate for passage of AB 368 and SB 373 as they move through the legislative process.