A bill moving Medicaid managed care late payments to the Department of Insurance's review process has overwhelmingly passed the state House.House Bill 5 passed 99-0 off the floor, after a few technical amendments were added to it.House Speaker Greg Stumbo is the bill sponsor and says his goal is to make sure health care providers start getting paid by Medicaid managed care organizations, which has been a problem since the MCO system was implemented."Because if claims are in fact being withheld unfairly, this will remedy that. If claims are being changed as far as the criteria goes in the claims process after they've been submitted this will change that," Stumbo says.Currently, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services reviews late payment issues, which has plagued health care providers from pharmacists to hospitals.Stumbo says the state's health industry is too important to sacrifice."There is a worth in our provider community to having their claims paid properly and paid on time," he says.The bill now moves to the Senate, who's leaders have signaled they support the bill if it doesn't disrupt the Medicaid contracts.
