Senate commerce panel backs restoring 'any willing provider' contracting for mental health The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee recommended Senate File 3705 as amended on March 12, 2026, to restore a temporary 'any willing provider' contracting rule for mental-health clinicians, after testimony from providers and advocacy groups about access problems and questions from members about program integrity.

Minnesota's Senate is taking a bold step to tackle the mental health provider shortage by pushing to reinstate a crucial contracting rule that could expand access to care for countless residents.

Learn more here!

#MN #ProviderNetworks #HealthcareAccess #CitizenPortal #MinnesotaMentalHealth

Anthem to penalize California hospitals for out-of-network doctors The Elevance subsidary began dinging in-network hospitals over bills for out-of-network doctors in January.

The policy is similar to one #Anthem began applying Jan. 1 in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin. #California #ProviderNetworks #Elevance

Benefit MIMS – Employee Benefits Explained In a true emergency, federal law requires hospitals to treat first — and insurance to follow accordingly.

Blog Post: In a true emergency, federal law requires hospitals to treat first — and insurance to follow accordingly. buff.ly/dbcvYeZ #healthcoverage #providernetworks

Hospitals are posting prices for patients. It's mostly industry using the data The Trump administration pushed for price transparency in health care. But instead of patients shopping for services, it's mostly health systems and insurers using the information for negotiations.

Instead of patients shopping for medical services, it's mostly #HospitalSystems and #HealthCoverage #carriers using the little data there is. #PriceTransparency #ProviderNetworks

Provider Networks: Challenges and Opportunities – Making it Make Sense Provider networks aren't failing — they're evolving. Here's a clear look at what’s driving those changes, and what they mean for consumers.

Blog Post: Provider networks aren't failing — they're evolving. Here's a clear look at what’s driving those changes, and what they mean for consumers. buff.ly/HAR20Sj #healthcoverage #managedcare #providernetworks

Senate committee adopts working substitute for SB 121 to set out‑of‑network floor and add network adequacy The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 121 to set a floor for out‑of‑network reimbursements (benchmarked to Medicare) and add minimum network‑adequacy standards; supporters said the bill would protect access and strengthen providers’ bargaining positions while staff will provide requested data on premiums and payouts.

Alaska's Senate has taken a bold step towards protecting healthcare access with a new bill that sets a minimum reimbursement benchmark for out-of-network clinicians—could this be the game-changer Alaskans have been waiting for?

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#AK #CitizenPortal #ProviderNetworks

Provider Networks: Everyone Suffers – Making it Make Sense Provider networks solve real problems in health care, but they also create financial, access, and continuity risks for everyone involved.

BLOG POST: Provider networks solve real problems in health care, but they also create financial, access, and continuity risks for everyone involved. buff.ly/y9iUAd4 #healthcoverage #managedcare #providernetworks

Blue Shield of California, Magellan Health sued over alleged ‘ghost networks’ In the complaint, multiple plaintiffs across California detail their own (or their child’s) struggle to find accessible care.

This is the fifth #GhostNetwork lawsuit filed by Pollock Cohen and Walden Macht, dating back to 2024, and it arrives on the heels of other ghost network cases. #ProviderNetworks #litigation #ClassAction

Delta Dental, other insurer groups defend provider network leasing rules A National Council of Insurance Legislators proposal calls for plans to get dentists' permission before letting outside organizations send them patients.

A #NetworkLeasing provision in the 2020 model lets #dentists opt out of these arrangements. A readoption draft now under review could replace the network leasing opt-out provision with an opt-in provision. #ProviderNetworks