Horizon Agrees to Delay Certification Requirement for Endocrinologists

In response to a request by MSNJ and the affected national and state specialty societies Horizon has agreed to delay its Endocrine Certification in Neck Ultrasound (ECNU) requirement that would have gone into effect on January 1, 2014. The payment policy would have denied payment for thyroid ultrasound and ultrasonic guidance for biopsy performed by physicians who had not become certified beginning on January 1, 2014. MSNJ asked Horizon to delay implementation of the policy because endocrinologists were not aware of the policy and, even those who were aware, would not have been able to obtain the certification in the time permitted. The delayed policy allows endocrinologists until June 1, 2014 to apply for the ECNU and until June 1, 2015 to have earned the certification. This should give the physicians enough time to become certified and avoid payment denials for these services.