Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has dropped a plan to require health plan subscribers to get prior approval before getting access to a broad range of outpatient mental health services, amid intense criticism.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois upset mental health providers and their patients throughout the state in recent weeks with a requirement that preferred provider organization, PPO, health plan subscribers first call the insurer to get prior approval before being able to get most outpatient mental health counseling, psychotherapy or other outpatient medical health services. Get the full story »