New York State physicians' practices influenced by insurers' guidelines, survey finds

Ninety percent of New York state physicians who responded to a survey have changed the way they treat patients because of restrictions imposed by health insurance companies, according to a survey released on Monday by the Medical Society of the State of New York, the Albany Times Union reports.

More than 1,200 physicians in the state responded to the survey, which appears in this month's issue of the society's publication, News of New York.

According to the survey, 92% of the physicians said insurance company incentives and penalties regarding treatment protocols "may not be in the best interest of the patients." Ninety-three percent of the physicians said that their biggest complaint was insurers requiring them to change prescription medications, and 78% said that an insurance company had restricted their ability to refer patients to physicians they believed could provide the best treatments, the survey found. In addition, 87% of the respondents said that they sometimes faced pressure to use certain treatments based on cost, rather than on what might be best for a patient (Crowley, Albany Times Union, 9/8).

The survey is available online (.pdf).