Business
N.Y. physicians feel insurer pressure
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 27, 2008
A large majority of New York physicians surveyed say they feel pressure from health insurers to alter the way they treat patients, based on cost.
The Medical Society of the State of New York, which conducted the survey of its members, will take the results to the state Legislature in January 2009 to bolster a proposed bill that would give physicians the right to negotiate their contract terms collectively with certain health benefits plans. A similar bill made it through a legislative committee last year but did not pass the full Legislature.
Of the 1,200 physicians who responded to the MSSNY survey, 87% said they sometimes feel pressured to prescribe a course of treatment based on cost rather than what is best for the patient, and 90% said they have had to change the way they treat patients based on restrictions from an insurance company. Also, 92% said insurers' incentives and disincentives regarding treatment protocols may not be in the best interest of patients.
The New York Health Plan Assn. opposes the proposed bill, claiming it might spur antitrust law violations in some cases and price-fixing among physicians.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/10/27/bibf1027.htm.
