May 14, 2012
ifawebnews.com
The association representing Maryland’s doctors says legislation is necessary to prevent insurers from using what they describe as “tricks” on them.
“We also need to change the law, because far too many of the tricks insurers use to delay or deny coverage to patients are still completely legal in the state of Maryland,” said Dr. David Hexter, immediate past president of MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society.
Hexter targeted one health insurer protocol, called prior authorization, requiring doctors to obtain the insurer’s approval before the carrier will agree to cover the cost of certain medications or procedures. Patients are often forced to wait days or weeks for insurers to approve the treatments that they need — and resolving denials can take months, he said.
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