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September 23, 2008
Maryland Insurance Administration to investigate delays in psychiatric care authorization
The Baltimore Sun (9/20, Brewington, Kohn) reported that the "Maryland Insurance Administration is investigating complaints that some psychiatric patients have been forced to wait hours -- in some cases, several days -- to be hospitalized because their insurance companies have not responded quickly when emergency room doctors called to verify coverage."
The investigation comes after the Baltimore health department "sent the state agency information about 10 cases in recent months in which patients endured long waits to be admitted to hospitals because their insurance companies could not be reached for approval."
If deemed excessive, the insurers would be subject to fines, because such "delays are illegal under a state law, passed in 2006, designed to guarantee that insurance companies don't leave patients in limbo when they need psychiatric treatment."
According to the law, "insurers must be available around the clock and must respond to requests for preauthorization within two hours." Delays may be more prevalent in psychiatric care because "insurers tend to insist on preauthorization. ... Hospitals that provide care without the approval risk being stuck with the bill."
Related Links:
- "Psychiatric care delay in spotlight," Kelly Brewington and David Kohn, Baltimore Sun, September 20, 2008.
Posted by admin at September 23, 2008 02:20 PM