While New York's health reform implementation efforts have far surpassed the federal government's, physicians are concerned that patients may experience difficulties in seeking to use their newly purchased coverage.
The Medical Society of the State of New York has conducted a survey preliminarily showing much confusion and concern among physicians regarding inadequate information being provided by health insurers offering coverage in New York's exchange.
The problems include failure to adequately communicate regarding whether a physician is part of an exchange plan and failure to provide information regarding payments for patient care.
For example, a third of the physician survey respondents actually did not know whether they were participating in an exchange plan. There must be clarity provided regarding which physicians are part of exchange networks.
Furthermore, more than two-thirds of the survey respondents indicated that they had not received any information regarding payments for patient care.
Of those who did receive this information, a significant majority indicated that it was well below non-exchange products. Payments must be transparent and fair.
Exacerbating these concerns is that very few insurers are offering coverage permitting patients to be treated by an out-of-network physician.
New York's physicians remain committed to working to assure that New York's exchange expands the consumer availability of affordable and comprehensive health insurance. However, the problems caused by inadequate health insurance transparency must be addressed.
Sam Unterricht, M.D.
President, Medical Society of the State of New York
Westbury