Dataset Information

Patient experiences with involuntary out-of-network charges.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Approximately 40 percent of individuals using out-of-network physicians experience involuntary out-of-network care, leading to unexpected and sometimes burdensome financial charges. Despite its prevalence, research on patient experiences with involuntary out-of-network care is limited. Greater understanding of patient experiences may inform policy solutions to address this issue. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the experiences of patients who encountered involuntary out-of-network physician charges. METHODS: Qualitative study using 26 in-depth telephone interviews with a semi-structured interview guide. Participants were a purposeful sample of privately insured adults from across the United States who experienced involuntary out-of-network care. They were diverse with regard to income level, education, and health status. Recurrent themes were generated using the constant comparison method of data analysis by a multidisciplinary team. RESULTS: Four themes characterize the perspective of individuals who experienced involuntary out-of-network physician charges: (1) responsibilities and mechanisms for determining network participation are not transparent; (2) physician procedures for billing and disclosure of physician out-of-network status are inconsistent; (3) serious illness requiring emergency care or hospitalization precludes ability to choose a physician or confirm network participation; and (4) resources for mediation of involuntary charges once they occur are not available. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal that patient education may not be sufficient to reduce the prevalence and financial burden of involuntary out-of-network care. Participants described experiencing involuntary out-of-network health care charges due to system-level failures. As policy makers seek solutions, our findings suggest several potential areas of further consideration such as standardization of processes to disclose that a physician is out-of-network, holding patients harmless not only for out-of-network emergency room care but also for non-elective hospitalization, and designation of a mediator for involuntary charges.

SUBMITTER: Kyanko KA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3796109 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Patient experiences with involuntary out-of-network charges.

Kyanko Kelly A KA Pong Denise D DD Bahan Kathleen K Curry Leslie A LA

Health services research 20130606 5

<h4>Background</h4>Approximately 40 percent of individuals using out-of-network physicians experience involuntary out-of-network care, leading to unexpected and sometimes burdensome financial charges. Despite its prevalence, research on patient experiences with involuntary out-of-network care is limited. Greater understanding of patient experiences may inform policy solutions to address this issue.<h4>Objective</h4>To characterize the experiences of patients who encountered involuntary out-of-ne ...[more]

PMID: 23742754

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectiveTo determine the proportion of privately insured adults using an out-of-network physician, the prevalence of involuntary out-of-network use, and whether patients experienced problems with cost transparency using out-of-network physicians.Data sourcesNationally representative internet panel survey conducted in February 2011.Study designScreener questions identified a sample of 7,812 individuals in private health insurance plans with provider networks who utilized health services within the prior 12 months. Participants reported details of their inpatient and outpatient contacts with out-of-network physicians. An inpatient out-of-network contact was defined as involuntary if: (1) it was due to a medical emergency; (2) the physician's out-of-network status was unknown at the time of the contact; or (3) an attempt was made to find an in-network physician in the hospital but none was available. Outpatient contacts were only defined as involuntary if the physician's out-of-network status was unknown at the time of the contact.Principal findingsEight percent of respondents used an out-of-network physician. Approximately 40 percent of individuals using out-of-network physicians experienced involuntary out-of-network care. Among out-of-network physician contacts, 58 percent of inpatient contacts and 15 percent of outpatient contacts were involuntary. The majority of inpatient involuntary contacts were due to medical emergencies (68 percent). In an additional 31 percent, the physician's out-of-network status was unknown at the time of the contact. Half (52 percent) of individuals using out-of-network services experienced at least one contact with an out-of-network physician where cost was not transparent at the time of care.ConclusionsThe frequency of involuntary out-of-network care is not inconsequential. Policy interventions can increase receipt of cost information prior to using out-of-network physician services, but they may be less helpful when patients have constrained physician choice due to emergent problems or limited in-hospital physician networks.

Project description:BackgroundComprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is a multidimensional interdisciplinary process that addresses an older adult's biopsychosocial capabilities to create an integrated and co-ordinated plan of care. While quantitative evidence that demonstrates the positive impacts of CGA on clinical and process outcomes has been synthesised, to date qualitative research reporting how older adults and service providers experience CGA has not been synthesised. This study aimed to systematically review and synthesise qualitative studies reporting community-dwelling older adults', caregivers' and healthcare professionals' (HCP) experiences of CGA in the primary care and out-patient (OPD) setting.MethodWe systematically searched five electronic databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and Social Sciences Full Text targeting qualitative or mixed methods studies that reported qualitative findings on older adults', caregivers' and HCPs' experiences of CGA in primary care or out-patient settings. There were no language or date restrictions applied to the search. The protocol was registered with the PROSPERO database (Registration: CRD42021283167). The methodological quality of the included studies was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative research. Results were synthesised according to Noblit and Hare's seven-step approach to meta-ethnography, which involves an iterative and inductive process of data synthesis.ResultsFourteen studies were included where CGA was completed in the home, general practice, out-patient setting in acute hospitals and in hybrid models across the community and hospital-based OPD settings. Synthesis generated four key themes: (1) CGA is experienced as a holistic process, (2) The home environment enhances CGA, (3) CGA in the community is enabled by a collaborative approach to care, and (4) Divergent experiences of the meaningful involvement of older adults, caregivers and family in the CGA process.ConclusionFindings demonstrate that CGA in a home-based or OPD setting allows for a holistic and integrated approach to care for community-dwelling older adults while increasing patient satisfaction and accessibility of healthcare. Healthcare professionals in the community should ensure meaningful involvement of older adults and their families or caregivers in the CGA process. Further robustly designed and well reported trials of different models of community-based CGA informed by the findings of this synthesis are warranted.

Dataset Information

Patient experiences with involuntary out-of-network charges.

Publications

Patient experiences with involuntary out-of-network charges.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets