New York Settlement With Insurer on Lead Screening

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says his office has reached a settlement with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield that requires the health insurer to process claims for routine childhood screenings for lead and provide refunds to consumers who paid for tests out-of-pocket after initially being denied.

The office’s Health Care Bureau started an investigation after receiving a complaint of denied coverage and reported finding hundreds of denied claims from August 2009 through September 2011.

The insurer says it fixed the problems.