Supreme Court Rules HMOs Must Accept Any Willing Provider Into Their Networks

OPEN MINDS, The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst

Industry News

On April 2, 2003, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld Kentucky's "any willing provider" statue. The law requires that health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and health insurers accept any doctor or healthcare provider into their networks, if the provider is within the geographical coverage area of the health plan and agrees to follow the health insurer's rules. Currently, about 25 states already have laws on the books that require health plans to open closed networks, giving consumers more options. The . . .