TapInto Phillipsburg: Insurance Companies Shouldn’t Stand in the way of Doctor-Patient Relationship

By Jeanette Hoffman, Patients Come First New Jersey’s Executive Director

Dear Editor:

If your doctor ordered a potentially life-saving test, treatment or drug, you’d expect your insurance company to pay for it, right?  Not necessarily.

In fact, many patients find themselves confronting significant hurdles--and even being denied treatment--under our current healthcare system due to insurance companies requiring prior authorization of a doctor’s orders. For individuals with chronic conditions, serious illnesses, or urgent medical needs, these delays can result in complications, hospitalizations, or even life-threatening consequences.

Doctors should have the final say in what treatment a patient receives. Reforming prior authorization would help eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles, allowing patients to receive the care they need without delays.

In addition to saving lives, reforming prior authorization would also reduce healthcare costs in New Jersey. When patients experience delays in receiving necessary care, their conditions can deteriorate, leading to more expensive emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and additional treatments. A more efficient process would reduce administrative expenses for healthcare providers and insurance companies alike, ultimately leading to a more cost-effective system.

Finally, reforming prior authorization policies would enhance transparency and accountability within the healthcare system here in New Jersey. Many patients and doctors are frustrated by unclear criteria for approvals and frequent denials that lack justification. A reformed system with clear, standardized guidelines would improve trust in the healthcare system. By making the process more efficient and patient-centered, reform can lead to better health outcomes, lower costs, and a more responsive healthcare experience for everyone involved.

Read the full LTE in TapInto Phillipsburg here.