In a message dated 97-08-17 19:16:19 EDT, (Michael Sachs) writes: > Do any of the managed care companies have a FAX authorization option for > non-emergency referrals. [. . .] > I also saw the suggestion by Bill Braun which was very good. You might > also see if there are any procedures they would consider allowing you to > order without any authorization, period. My IPA removed plain-film X-Rays > from the authorization category after it was determined that 99% of the > requests by all the provders in the group were appropriate and the process > of authorizing plain films became a waste of everybody's time. > Thanks for the suggestions--some are already done. Some companies do have fax authorization, and some let us write the referrals without company authorization. One (United) doesn't require any authorization or any paperwork--it's wonderful! Also, some have specialty networks that do not require any authorization. Florida just passed legislation allowing patients to see dermatologists without referrals for any managed care. It has to be a provider on their list, but they do not need referral or pre-authorization. If you need your appendix removed, you need authorization, but not for warts or acne! A lot of our time is also spent verifying insurance coverage. The insurers all recommend doing this each time the patient is seen (unless it's a capitation plan, and you've gotten your list for that month already). We've been burned, so we do check, but it sure takes a while sometimes. Now some companies have fax or automated phone verification which speeds things up a lot. Hopefully more will follow that lead. Moshe Adler, MD