Legislative Update From SAGES

INSURER HASSLES TRACKED

A recent AMA/Federation News update indicated that a new database to gather information on insurer hassles is being created. Physicians long have been dealing with difficulties from health insurers, however the medical community still lacks non-anecdotal data to support its claims on a national level. The AMA is working to fill the gap by creating an electronic clearinghouse for physicians to report information about administrative disputes with third-party payers.

A new "Health Plan Complaint Form," released this week by the AMA's Private Sector Advocacy (PSA) group, will gather specific data on the types and severity of the managed care hassles physicians experience on a day-to-day basis.

The findings will be compiled in a database and used to advocate on behalf of patients and physicians by identifying trends and facilitating discussions with national health insurers to resolve administrative hassles facing physicians.

For more information, go to the PSA Web site at

http://www.ama-assn.org/go/psa

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