Commercial Insurer Accountability
Forty-six days from now on Nov. 8 millions of Americans will cast their ballots and exercise their most sacred right 鈥 the right to vote.
In medical care, prior authorization was originally intended to ensure patients received appropriate care that was in line with tested methodologies. Today, 鈥減rior authorization鈥 has become a dreaded term鈥ften signaling delayed care and undue financial burdens posed to patients and care providers鈥
America鈥檚 hospitals and health systems continue to deal with the difficult challenges of high inflation and ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, hospitals are facing significant increases in costs of labor from workforce shortages, drugs, equipment and supplies (including food鈥
Some commercial insurer policies may hurt patients, contribute to clinician burnout and drive up the cost of care, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack notes in an advertorial published today in the Wall Street Journal.
Hospitals and health systems recognize the importance of commercial health insurance, which millions of Americans rely on to receive coverage. Unfortunately, some commercial insurer policies may hurt patients, contribute to clinician burnout and drive up the cost of care.
Like individuals and families across America, hospitals and health systems are dealing with the difficult challenges of high inflation and ongoing effects of the pandemic.
Delaying and denying authorizations for medically necessary care. Forcing patients to try potentially ineffective treatments through step therapy, or 鈥渇ail first鈥 protocols that require patients to try and fail certain treatments before the insurer will authorize more costly treatments.
Today AHA released a report showing that commercial insurance costs are increasing at an unsustainable rate while many plan policies create dangerous delays in care, contribute to clinician burnout and significantly drive up administrative costs for the health care system.
The AHA today released a new report highlighting numerous commercial health insurer policies that compromise patient safety and raise costs.
The cost of commercial insurance is increasing at an unsustainable rate 鈥 squeezing individuals and families, employers, and public programs. The average family insurance premium has increased 47% over the past 11 years 鈥 faster than general inflation and more than any other part of the health care鈥