(Bloomberg) — Health insurers under pressure to keep premiums low are eliminating some hospitals from coverage in a cost-cutting strategy that threatens to freeze out centers that provide specialized care, limiting patient options.
Left out are hospitals such as Seattle Childrens, excluded from five of seven plans on Washingtons state insurance exchange. The hospital, which has sued the state to be included in more plans, is struggling to get paid for care given to about 125 children since Jan. 1, when Obamacare coverage took effect, said Sandy Melzer, the facilitys strategy officer.
