Patients and providers are reeling in Ohio, given the new Anthem BlueCross BlueShield emergency department (ED) policy, allowing the payer to decline claims for non-emergency ED visits. Advocates caution that Ohio patients might not visit the ED, fearful of not having their visits covered. Former ED physician-turned healthcare consultant Erica Remer, herself an Ohioan, reports on this developing story.

Another headline grabbing story is the reported lawsuit filed by Envision Healthcare against UnitedHealthcare (UHC). Envision is using the giant insurer alleging the UHC "unilaterally" lowered payments of Envision's contracted physicians, according to Axios. Healthcare attorney Mary Inman, a partner at Constantine Cannon, reports on this developing story, calling in from the firm's London office.

Yet another story about UHC is reported by Shannon DeConda, founder and president of the National Alliance of Medical Auditing Specialists (NAMAS). UHC, DeConda reports, is cracking down on emergency ED service codes of Level 4 and 5.

The episode rundown also includes:

Monitor with us™