North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today on Thursday asked all health insurance companies to immediately waive certain prior authorization requirements in an effort to ease hospitalizations and to provide for better care for patients.
“Due to the high level of resurgence of the COVID-19 virus, I am requesting all health insurance companies to immediately waive prior authorization requirements for post-acute care cases and hospitalizations and waive prior authorization requirements for non-elective COVID-19 in-patient admissions,” Commissioner Causey said.
Commissioner Causey made the request in response to concerns raised by healthcare providers regarding an uptick in hospitalizations in North Carolina.
The Insurance Commissioner does not have the statutory authority to order such a waiver. Therefore, Commissioner Causey is asking health insurers to voluntarily waive the requirements.