Insurers’ Delays Burden Patients, Physicians; Could Cost Patients More - 11/16/2016
A growing number of physicians say health insurers are slow to enroll them as plan providers in the health plan’s insurance network, which spells fewer physician choices for patients and financial strife for the doctors. The process of “credentialing” — when plans contract with a doctor, finalize enrolling him or her in their system, and acquire hospital and facility privileges for the doctor — is taking twice as long as normal. Physicians say three of the state’s biggest health plans, UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Aetna, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), are delaying enrolling doctors in networks to reduce plan costs and increase the plans’ revenue.