By Free Republic | Created at 2024-12-22 21:54:06 | Updated at 2024-12-23 02:51:16
5 hours ago
The deadly cost of insurance denials in America’s healthcare system
The Hill ^ | 12/22/2024 | Shravani Durbhakula
Posted on 12/22/2024 1:48:42 PM PST by ChicagoConservative27
Luigi Mangione’s alleged killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sent waves through the medical community. This horrific act of violence, while tragic and inexcusable, forces us to confront an uncomfortable reality: frustration with the unchecked power of publicly traded insurance companies has reached a boiling point, for patients and doctors alike.
As a pain management physician, I deeply empathize with the anguish of denied care. While my patients desperately seek relief, insurance companies reject treatments that are evidence based, cataloging them as “unnecessary” or “experimental.” They use opaque and unreliable artificial intelligence algorithms to deny care and rely on the medical record notes to contextualize the humanity of my patients. The process of scheduling appeals with insurance representatives or “peer” reviewers is frequently a time-consuming exercise in futility. Decision-making “peers” can be individuals without expertise in the relevant medical field, incentivized to deny care. The appeals process can take months, leaving patients to suffer while the clock ticks on their quality of life.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: cost; deadly; denials; insurance
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I have a feeling Shravani wants single payer...
The money shot, When a patient qualifies for Original Medicare, I am relieved,as it is subject to stricter regulatory oversight as compared to private insurers.
To: ChicagoConservative27
With Medicare Advantage you get all kinds of cool perks.
With Original Medicare, you are never out of network (no surprises).
2 posted on 12/22/2024 1:52:32 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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