Regulation of Narrow Provider Networks: State Protections Take on Added Significance

Georgetown University’s Justin Giovannelli and Ashley Williams say that narrow network plans are popular with insurers and frequently selected by consumers, but people don’t always have reliable information to help them decide whether a plan’s network will meet their needs. Concerns also persist about the ability of such plans to provide timely access to care. Given states’ wide latitude on network issues, it will be important to monitor how these consumer protections are ensured.