Tests Required by New Drug Law May Not Be Covered
By AP
LEXINGTON, KY - Under a new law designed to curb prescription pill abuse, patients with long-term conditions requiring controlled substances have to submit to urine drug tests that aren't always covered by insurance companies.
Retired nurse Cynthia Burton told the Lexington Herald-Leader that her insurer, Bluegrass Family Health, declined to pay $533 for a urine test that her husband took to get his anxiety medicine because it wasn't medically necessary. She said she hasn't yet gotten a letter about her urine test for insomnia medicine, but expects the same result.
Gov. Steve Beshear said he is "aware of the concerns" and understands the cost may be "prohibitive" for some patients. He says officials are working to find a solution to the problem.