After Man’s Death Following Insurance Denials, West Virginia Tackles Prior Authorization • West Virginia Watch

After man’s death following insurance denials, West Virginia tackles prior authorization • West Virginia Watch

Eric Tennant with his wife, Becky, and daughter, Amiya. (Photo courtesy of Becky Tennant)Six months after a West Virginia man died following a protracted battle with his health insurer over doctor-recommended cancer care, the state’s Republican governor signed a bill intended to curb the harm of insurance denials. West Virginia’s Public Employees Insurance Agency enrolls nearly 215,000 people — state workers, as well as their spouses and depende…

West Virginia man's insurer denied his cancer treatment for months, but only reversed it after NBC News got involved, by then it was too late

West Virginia’s Republican governor signed a new bill aimed at limiting insurance denials. It happened six months after a local man, Eric Tennant, died following a long fight with his health insurer over cancer treatment coverage. According to NBC News, Eric Tennant, a 58-year-old coal mining safety instructor from Bridgeport, died last September from complications related to stage 4 bile duct cancer. His cancer journey began in 2023, and for ne…