FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2021
STATEMENT FROM – NCODA Legislative & Policy Advisory Committee
Contact: Kevin Scorsone | NCODA Legislative & Policy Liaison
Phone: (919) 903-2057
Email: kevin.scorsone@ncoda.org
www.ncoda.org
ANY WILLING PROVIDER – STILL A MAJOR ISSUE IN ONCOLOGY
As we begin to navigate 2021, it is important for the oncology community to speak up on issues that are still a focal point affecting patient care. The continuing issue of “Any Willing Provider (AWP)” is one that remains at the forefront of NCODA’s efforts as it relates to the Legislative & Policy Advisory Committee.
“Any Willing Provider” statutes, sometimes referred to as “Any Authorized Provider,” are laws that require health insurance carriers to allow health care providers to become members of the carriers’ networks of providers if certain conditions are met. Such statutes prohibit insurance carriers from limiting membership within their provider networks based upon geography or other characteristics, so long as a provider is willing and able to meet the conditions of network membership set by the carrier. 1
NCODA serves patients by way of our vast membership. We are aware of issues that continue to face patients in various states, limiting their access to quality care, and in this instance with AWP limitations, negatively impacting patients’ ability to receive their medications in a timely manner.
While many of the issues that face the world of oncology are determined at the state level, we must look to the higher courts as we did earlier this year when the Supreme Court ruled to allow states to regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM’s). NCODA believes that the ability to receive timely and quality care from pharmacies should not be determined by geographic location.
This is the call of the oncology community and we hope that the necessary steps are taken in order to correct issues such as AWP that continue to have detrimental effects on patient access to care.
[1] Courtesy of ncsl.org
Read the Full Press Release HERE
