New York Regulators Fine 22 Health Insurers for Slow-Paying Claims
Posted on: Thursday, 1 December 2005, 18:00 CST
By The Buffalo News, N.Y.
Dec. 1--New York State insurance regulators have fined 22 health insurers -- including Buffalo-based HealthNow New York -- a total of $178,600 for failing to pay undisputed claims within 45 days.
HealthNow, the parent of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, was fined $1,100, while its health maintenance organization, Community Blue, had to pay an additional $3,600.
Rochester-based Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, which owns Univera Healthcare, was fined $2,000.
Group Health Inc., a New York-based nonprofit insurer that offers dental coverage and a preferred provider organization in Western New York, had to pay $8,200. Its HMO, which plans to expand into Erie and Niagara counties, paid $1,400.
GHI in September announced plans to merge with HIP Health Plan of New York, which was fined $14,600. And Fidelis Care, the Catholic insurance plan, was fined $2,700.
However, those pale in comparison to fines of $25,100 and $26,100 paid by Oxford Health Plans and United Healthcare, two for-profit insurers that operate in downstate New York. Minneapolis-based United owns Oxford.
The fines, which are for complaints closed by the state Insurance Department between Oct. 1, 2004, and March 31, 2005, are the latest round of penalties for violating the state's "prompt pay" law.
That law requires insurers to pay such claims in a timely fashion, and also mandates that they pay health care providers interest on undisputed claims when payments are delayed. Since 1998, the state has levied nearly $6.2 million in fines against insurers and health maintenance organizations for violations.
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Source: The Buffalo News
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