Prompt payment/payment hassles

The AMA is working hard to help state and county medical societies and national medical specialty societies ensure that their physicians get paid on time by health insurers. Delayed payment of physicians claims is widespread, and in some communities it has become so chronic that it has created financial problems for physicians whose practices rely heavily on the delinquent payers. In response, the AMA's Private Sector Advocacy (PSA) unit has developed a Prompt Payment Brochure to help physicians understand what they can do to combat this problem.

On June 13, the AMA testified to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on a range of issues related to unfair health plan payer contracting and business practices, including the lack of transparency, which is the hallmark of the health plan reimbursement process. Read the full written testimony (PDF, 241KB, requires Adobe® Reader®).