Reforming Medical Insurance Practices

Policy Proposal: Reforming Medical Insurance Practices

Purpose

To establish a comprehensive policy that ensures timely access to necessary medical, dental, and vision care without undue barriers imposed by insurance companies. This policy aims to prioritize patient welfare and uphold the integrity of healthcare delivery.

Policy Statement

Medical, dental, and vision insurance should focus on funding necessary and preventive healthcare as determined by healthcare professionals rather than administrative personnel. This policy seeks to eliminate pre-approval processes, restrictions on inpatient care, procedural limitations, and drug selection constraints.

Key Provisions

1. Elimination of Pre-Approval Requirements

  • Insurance companies shall not impose pre-approval requirements for any medical treatments, procedures, or medications deemed necessary by a patient’s primary care physician or specialist.
  • Healthcare professionals will have the authority to make decisions regarding patient care without interference from insurance company protocols.

2. Ensuring Inpatient Care

  • Insurance policies must cover necessary inpatient care as determined by healthcare providers, without arbitrary limits on the duration of stay or frequency of admissions.
  • Any limitations on inpatient care must be justified through clinical necessity and not through cost-saving measures.

3. Freedom in Medical Procedures and Anesthesia Administration

  • Insurance companies are prohibited from limiting access to medical procedures or the administration of anesthesia based solely on cost considerations.
  • Healthcare providers should have the autonomy to recommend and perform necessary procedures based on clinical judgment.

4. Drug Selection and Access

  • Insurance policies shall not impose restrictions on drug selection that prevent patients from accessing necessary medications as prescribed by their healthcare providers.
  • Patients should have the right to choose medications that are appropriate for their treatment plans, based on the recommendations of their physicians.

5. Fraud Detection and Reporting

  • Insurance companies suspecting fraud should report such cases to law enforcement agencies for investigation.
  • Civil actions for damages may be pursued against individuals or entities found guilty of fraud after criminal conviction.

Implementation

  • This policy should be implemented through regulatory oversight, ensuring compliance by insurance providers.
  • Regular audits and assessments will be conducted to ensure adherence to these policies and to evaluate their impact on patient care.

Conclusion

This policy aims to create a healthcare environment where necessary and preventive care is prioritized, and patients are empowered to receive care based on professional medical advice rather than administrative constraints. By focusing on the needs of patients and supporting healthcare providers, we can enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services.

Consider adding exceptions that allow for flexibility for a Federal and non-federal employees to change insurance companies after the close of open season for special cases. For example, getting news from your healthcare provider that contract negotiations have broken down between the insurance provider and the healthcare provider… just when open season closes. This sort of thing has a disastrous effect of divorcing the patient from established relationships and quality of care! see example below: