The South Carolina Medical Association is voicing its concern about the power health insurance companies are able to exert over doctors’ practices.
The organization conducted a survey, in which almost all physicians said they had to change a treatment plan based on an insurer. The vast majority of doctors said they frequently felt health insurance companies created barriers when it came to providing treatment.
Todd Atwater, CEO of SCMA, says insurance companies shouldn’t be able to have such an influence over patient care.
“As South Carolina deals with the implications of the recently passed federal healthcare overhaul, it is imperative that we take a second look at pre-approval requirements, step therapy protocols and therapeutic switching policies in order to ensure that all South Carolinians have the protected relationship with their doctor that they deserve,” says Atwater.
Frequently, health insurers will only provide coverage for certain types of procedures or care. In others, a company may agree to pay for only a portion of the costs of some treatments. It’s important for patients and doctors to weight the pros and cons of each procedure.
