Petition Launched in Support of a National Health Insurer Code of Conduct
In an effort to ensure and protect patient access to approved medical treatments, a petition in support of a Health Insurer Code of Conduct was launched by the Alliance for Patient Access (AfPA). The petition calls for the adoption of a Code of Conduct, currently being drafted by the American Medical Association, which will address the restrictive practices of the managed care industry that undermine the integrity of doctor-patient relationships.
The AMA House of Delegates passed a resolution in November of 2008 to draft and adopt a National Health Insurer Code of Conduct. According to the resolution, the AMA code will set forth clear and concise principles addressing both medical policies and payment issues, as well as create a mechanism to monitor compliance by managed care companies.
Currently, while many managed care organizations maintain appropriate focus on quality measures, some managed care plans and pharmacy benefit managers employ aggressive tactics to cut costs, while at the same time shifting blame for consequences of actions such as premium increases and cost-sharing strategies onto other parties in the healthcare industry.
“A code of conduct is needed to prevent health plans from using dangerous practices, such as drug switching, that interfere with the doctor/patient relationship,” said Dr. Bruce Rubin, assistant professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine and president of the AfPA Florida. “Health plans have begun to overstep their bounds and should follow a code of conduct that places patient health above cost savings.”
AfPA’s petition calls for autonomy between doctors and managed care companies, as well as full transparency regarding a patient’s prescribed course of care. This includes any relationships with outside parties that might influence doctors’ decisions. AfPA also calls for upholding business integrity, with fees reflecting acceptable rates and prescribed courses of treatment resulting from medically-based, not fiscally-driven, decisions. Finally, AfPA’s first priority remains patients’ access to quality medical care that ensures their safety and welfare.
“A Code of Conduct for the managed care industry is long overdue,” said Dr. David Charles, AfPA Chairman. “Signing the petition is an excellent way for physicians and the public to urge the AMA to adopt a National Heath Insurer Code of Conduct. Anyone who cares about preserving the inviolability of the doctor/patient relationship should sign the petition in order to urge the AMA toward action on this important issue.”
“I am proud to join the Alliance for Patient Access in its quest to level the playing field so that physicians can act in the best interests of our patients without the interference of outside influences,” said Dr. Rubin. “The National Health Insurer Code of Conduct Petition is an important tool in building nationwide support to hold managed care organizations to the same standards the rest of the healthcare industry already adheres to.”