THE “SIREN CALL” OF MEDICAL PRACTICE PRIOR AUTHORIZATONS
Courtesy: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
“The Doctor Can’t See You – She’s Too Busy Doing Prior Authorizations.”
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA
Somewhere along the way, physicians took a wrong step. Colleagues said OK to the SERPENT who whispered: “this saves money,” and now we’re entangled. We should’ve asked, “Whose money?”
PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS for medical treatment and prescription drug are killing medicine and all those who would follow into this once great profession.
And so, here is an excerpt [blinded and abbreviated] from an email we received from a medical physician colleague.
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DOCTOR: For every hour that I spend with a patient, I spend another three hours documenting and begging.
TYPICAL DAY: 4 hours of seeing patients, sprinkled between 12 hours of doing what we used to call “paperwork”.
EMRs: Calling it Electronic Medical Records and data collection doesn’t make this nonsense any more appealing.
ASSESSMENT: Patients get turned away because PCPs are too busy with paperwork. People are sick and dying while I’m calling clerks and pleading for RXs. I’d rather be doctoring.
BOTTOM LINE: 1/5 of my day, over 12 hours a week as a PCP, is now spent on prior authorizations. 1/3 of my assistant’s day is on prior authorizations. That’s why he couldn’t call you back.
CONCLUSION: Next time you can’t get a doctor’s appointment, you’ll know why.
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Assessment: Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.
BUSINESS, FINANCE, INVESTING AND INSURANCE TEXTS FOR DOCTORS
THANK YOU
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Glossary Terms | Tagged: prior medical authorizations |
Medical Claims Denied by Specialty
https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-coding-billing-and-collections/which-physicians-have-the-most-claims-denied-resubmitted-a-specialty-breakdown.html
Dr. David E. Marcinko MBA
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PRIOR AUTHORIZATION
I think educating the general public on these types of issues would be helpful. In pursuing the CERTIFIED MEDICAL PLANNER ® professional designation I’m learning so much about the things PCPs deal with. I know personally it has made me much more patient and understanding with medical processes.
It is hard on the ears to hear how much time is spent with tasks that take healthcare professionals away from what they care about most … The patient.
Joe
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