HB1463

This bill appropriately focuses on transparency and accessibility of authorization requirements. Feedback from practicing clinicians – physicians, physician associates, nurse practitioners - is critical to confirm and ensure that insurers provide clear and usable guidance. As the CEO of the Medical Society, I support the intent of the bill and would be happy to work collaboratively with the sponsors, insurers, Department, and other stakeholders to fulfill the spirit of this legislation in a way that improves the prior authorization process and provides clarity to physicians without the heavy fiscal note. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.

I am a New Hampshire resident and write as a primary care physician of 39 years in support of this bill. In the end, prior authorization does not save insurance companies money after their administrative cost dealing with denials are considered and thus ultimately only increase the overall cost of medical care for our patients and interfere with patients received medically recommended treatment. There are bad outcomes all around the US everyday as a result of prior authorizations. Even when ultimately approved, a patient may die while waiting in some critical situations, or in others, the delay may cause injury before the indicated treatment can be started. Not surprisingly, the department of insurance put a large fiscal note on this bill, which is not needed and an obvious attempt to kill the bill. Publishing performance of insurance company transparency regarding prior authorization criteria would cost little. They need to be transparent about their criteria.

Dear Committee member, I am writing in support of HB1463 as an independent family physician in solo practice. With one-and-a-half employees other than myself, the responsibility for completing prior authorizations fall to me most of the time. I appreciated the hard work and compromise that created RSA 420-J; However, in practice, the intended benefit has not been borne out due to a failure of most of the insurers in the state to comply with those requirements. Without the clarity and transparency required by that law, the prior authorization process continues to be an onerous, convoluted, and costly expense that detracts not only directly from the time I could otherwise spend with patients, but in the ability to provide timely, thorough and informed shared decision making with my patients about their treatment options. Compliance with the laws on the books is of paramount importance to improving patient care, and lessening the wasteful expense associated with the prior authorization process. I hope that you will vote ought to pass on this bill. I invite you to contact me directly should you have any questions related to my experience with prior authorizations. Thank you for your kind consideration, Eric Kropp, MD

Position recorded without written comment.

Position recorded without written comment.

Position recorded without written comment.