Adequacy of Outpatient Specialty Care Access in Marketplace Plans Under the Affordable Care Act
By Stephen C. Dorner, MSc; Douglas B. Jacobs, ScB; Benjamin D. Sommers, MD, PhD
JAMA, October 27, 2015
In this study of federal marketplace plans, nearly 15% completely lacked in-network physicians for at least 1 specialty. We found this practice among multiple states and issuers. This likely violates network adequacy requirements, raising concerns regarding patient access to specialty care. Such plans precipitate high out-of-pocket costs and may lead to adverse selection (ie, sicker individuals choosing plans with broader networks), which is similar to concerns over restrictive drug formularies.
We also found substantial turnover in directory listings. This may contribute to inaccuracies in listings, which prompted more stringent federal requirements for 2016. However, physician listings without any specialists (even if inaccurate) may confuse or impede consumers’ access to physicians.
(R)ural regions are known to have fewer physicians and may have an even higher prevalence of specialist-deficient plans.
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2466113
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Comment:
By Don McCanne, MD
This study shows that not all health plans in the ACA insurance exchanges have a full complement of specialists in their networks. When patients have to obtain their care out of network, they may face impaired access and financial penalties. If private insurers cannot provide the basics, why would we want to include them in our health care system in the first place?
Single payer.
