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Insurance Coverage Inhibits Physician-Patient Communication, Study Finds
STUDY:
JOURNAL: Health Affairs. 2003;22(4):190-197
AUTHORS: Dr. Wynia
ABSTRACT: One third of physicians do not tell their patients about the full range of services that might benefit their medical condition because of perceived insurance coverage restrictions, a new study finds.
COMMENTARY: The study, which surveyed 1,124 U.S. physicians during 1998, did not ask doctors to identify specific categories of medical services for which insurers deny coverage. But complaints about coverage denials in recent years have centered on certain types of prescription drugs and mental health services, as well as expensive procedures such as organ transplantation. Concerns that physicians were being forced by insurers to avoid discussion of noncovered services led to passage in many states of bans on "gag clauses" in managed care contracts.
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