July 18, 2023 – The American Hospital Association released findings of three new surveys conducted by Morning Consult that examined how some commercial insurer practices impact the patient and provider health care experience. The surveys found that the vast majority of patients, nurses and physicians say insurer policies and practices are reducing access to medical care, driving up health care costs and increasing clinician burden and burnout.
The surveys found:
- Most patients (62%) have had medical care delayed because of their insurance provider in the last two years. Nearly half of those patients (43%) say their health has gotten worse as a result.
- Most patients (83%) want their health care provider to determine what care they receive, not their insurance company.
- Over half of patients (54%) have difficulty affording insurance costs and premiums.
- Nurses overwhelmingly believe (84%) insurance administrative policies delay patient care. About three in four nurses (74%) say it reduces the quality of care and 63% say it interferes with a patient being transferred to the right care setting.
- Meanwhile, more than 80% of physicians said insurance practices and policies affect their ability to practice medicine.
- The increase in insurance administrative requirements has taken a toll on clinicians with 56% of nurses saying their job satisfaction has decreased because of it and 84% of physicians said these policies make it difficult to operate a solo practice.