While insurance companies continue to explain that their “process” is simply a means of protecting patients from unnecessary or unproven procedures,it is clear that the process is becoming so widespread that anyone can end up facing a denial for treatment – delaying care and requiring a formal “appeal” for almost any form of medical care. Different insurers handle the process different ways, but all use it. Doctors continue to incorporate algorithms into their notes and documentation to cover every possible question your insurer could ask, but, then, the insurer can always ask something else that has never come up before, or more commonly request written documentation from a third party to support the patient’s own report, in essence saying “Prove it!”. And this denial of coverage often comes within 24 hours of the scheduled surgical date, making a response difficult, impossible, or fruitless. The usual outcome is that your doctor will have to have a “peer-to-peer” conversation (argument) with another doctor (often retired, employed by the insurer), to convince them that the surgery is necessary and appropriate. Usually this is successful, but it helps (is absolutely necessary) if your doctor has ALL THE AMMUNITION he/she needs to win that argument. Patients often assume that, for one reason or another, this won’t affect them. Here are 5 (OK, 7) ASSUMPTIONS patients commonly make before getting DENIED by their insurance company:
5. My health is at stake – surely they don’t want me to get sicker? Remember this – your insurer didn’t say you couldn’t have surgery, they said they wouldn’t pay for it. The AMA suggests that one of the proposed benefits of pre-approval denials – the prevention of unnecessary treatment and costs – often borne by employers, has not been seen, and that an additional cost of prolonged and sometimes permanent disability for their workers has now been documented, and attributed to either delay treatment, or patients’ frustration and decision to abandon effective treatment because of denials. To that point the AMA survey found that:
6. Well, as long as I get the surgery done, they’ll have to pay afterwards. That’s not a reliable assumption even if you get the pre-approval in the first place. Post-treatment denials are not uncommon and require a another round of appeals if your hospital is going to recoup the expenses of the hospitalization and surgery without turning to you. The denial letter will again refer to “your healthcare providers” either lack of documentation or a mistake in billing, but that mistake can consist of absolutely perfect paperwork being read incorrectly by the insurer – for instance a reviewer not recognizing the difference between arthrodesis (fusion) and arthroplasty (joint replacement). 7. Well, if my doctor does a good job with the peer-to-peer review this should get settled pretty quickly, right? Unfortunately, not so. Roughly a third of the peer-to-peer reviews I engage in start with “So what did you call us for?” When I respond that I was offered a chance to appeal their denial decision I am informed that, no – I was offered a chance to call and discuss it, but that the denial was made based on “a Board decision”. I was informed that the company had decided at the corporate level not to cover that type of treatment and that there was no opportunity to discuss, appeal, or debate the denial. “Thanks for calling”. Or as one neurosurgeon/reviewer told me – “your right, there’s no reason to get an MRI for this patient’s compression fracture, but that’s our corporate policy. She (the patient) must have an MRI and then resubmit the request”. They then refused to approve the MRI! So, here’s my advice:
Get your records, keep your records, and copy your records like you were preparing for a tax audit. Know who provided your care, when and where. Bring copies of your physical therapist or chiropractors treatment notes with you. Don’t fudge the dates – if you tell me “sure – I’ve had a full course of physical therapy” I’ll believe you, but if it turns out it was three visits two years ago, there’s a real likelihood your surgery will get delayed or flat-out denied. Don’t cut corners – if your doctor prescribes physical therapy but you just don’t want to go, there’s not much anyone can do if your insurer flags your chart. If you do go, and it’s just too painful – GET YOUR THERAPIST TO DOCUMENT THAT CLEARLY – and provide that documentation when you come to see your surgeon. Bring your imaging studies – x-rays and MRI – on a CD so your doctor can read them and plan the best treatment for you, BUT ALSO – bring the Radiologist’s printed reports for those studies so they can be submitted with your treatment application. This was intended as a brief note, but so many of my patients are being impacted by this process now that it is crucial that you be prepared and understand the process a bit. It won’t help to get frustrated with your doctor’s clinic staff or schedulers. They often fax 20 – 30 – 40 pages of material to your insurer, 2 or 3 times to make sure everything is in order...only to get a one page fax the day before surgery, without explanation, stating that the surgery is denied for “lack of documentation”. And, if you end up embroiled in this process, this is one time that writing your senator and congressman wouldn’t be a bad idea, as these issues are being reviewed in congress. Your story could be important to changing this system! Thanks for reading, and let me know what other questions you might have!
4 Comments
4/19/2023 04:55:04 am
Hi, This is really a good content which is full of knowledge. So thank you for sharing the prious knowledge and please keep sharing good contents with us. The best facility is Spine Surgery India. It uses cutting-edge practices and technology. Additionally, you can access the top spine hospital through it. They use cutting-edge techniques.
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Darlene V Quinn
1/15/2024 02:00:13 pm
My surgeon told me I really need spinal surgery but Medicare won't pay until I get to a normal BMI, having to lose a lot of weight. The weight just isn't coming off and it has been 2 years now and I am in so much pain that I can hardly sit, walk, or lie down. I have been getting gradually worse since the surgeon told me that Medicare won't pay and it won't be long before I become an invalid. What can I do? Even getting the MRI 2 years ago was so painful that I wanted to cry while in the machine. I live alone so I don't want to end up having to use a wheelchair to get around - no room in my home in the doorways, and I am not getting the sleep I need. I can't stand this pain and have had epidural injections which are only temporary for a couple weeks. This new kind of pain in buttocks and thighs is excruciating. Any advice? Thank you.
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1/27/2024 12:49:52 pm
This is an all-to-common problem, and very frustrating. I can't advise you personally, but here are three things people in a similar situation must do: Find out what the acceptable BMI target should be - more than 1/2 the patients undergoing back surgery each year are not "normal", so what target will your anesthesiologists accept? Usually a BMI under 40 is not a problem, and not a problem for Medicare. Second, do go to a primary doctor and get a weight control program started. Third get a referral to PTa physical therapist for exercise and weight loss and give it a good try. AND, if you can't manage it because of leg or back pain, get the therapist to DOCUMENT that, and attest to both effort and inability. Medicare should not block care at that point with an appeal from the surgeon. Good luck.
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Cynthia Kinney
9/16/2024 10:21:41 am
Everything you wrote is what I am going through thank y out for your advice. I’m not sure what is going to happen to me if I don’t get this surgery for this herniated disc I have had it worse since last 2 years thank you again Cynthia Kinney Leave a Reply. |
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AuthorI'm Dr. Rob McLain. I've been taking care of back and neck pain patients for more than 30 years. I'm a spine surgeon. But one of my most important jobs is... Archives
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