Excellus radiology pre-approval plan on hold again

News 8 Now has learned that a plan to require pre-approval for certain imaging tests in on hold once again. Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield has delayed the start of its “CareCore” imaging approval program to February 19^th. The plan was scheduled to take effect today. The delay comes in response to a continuing debate among the insurance provider and area doctors. The parties have been at odds over the program for so long that the NYS attorney general’s office recently became involved in the matter.

Excellus plans to require Rochester area doctors to get approval before they can issue scans such as MRIs, CT, PET scans and x-rays. Excellus says many of the tests are costly and often unnecessary however, area doctors disagree saying patients shouldn't have to wait to get these tests and get any life-saving treatments they need.

We asked Excellus about this issue today but they declined to discuss it further simply because they say they are still ironing out the details. The Attorney General’s office is scheduled to release a compromise to the situation later in this week.