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Christopher Moriates, MD University of California, San Francisco. Neel T. Shah, MD, MPP Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Vineet M. Arora, MD, MAPP University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
ultimately have unaffordable medical bills, they should treat all patients as if they could be. This approach applies to both inpatient and outpatient encounters because patients often face significant financial obligations in both settings. Although physicians may assume that hospitalizations for insured patients are automatically covered by health plans, in reality these patients may still face large co-payments. Thus, in some instances whether hospitalization can be avoided should be discussed. In addition, the payer may refute the appropriateness of admission or leave coverage gaps due to high deductibles, caps, or other costsharing mechanisms. In the ambulatory care setting, patients may pay a percentage of the fees for services. However, patients can be understandably confused whether they are being treated as inpatients or outpatients because emergency department care and observation status in the hospital are often considered ambulatory care sites.4
JAMA Published online July 8, 2013 E1
Opinion Viewpoint
less than ideal options for their particular patients not due to a lack of caring, but rather a lack of knowing. This includes not prescribing generic or other insurance-covered drugs when appropriate. Lack of awareness about the opportunities to provide higher-value care should no longer be an allowable excuse. Physicians, as well as office and hospital staff, can aid patients by directing them to readily available high-quality resources about medication costs and their insurance plans. Providing true patient-centered care should not replace physical ailments with distressing fiscal harms.
Conclusions
Financial concerns are important to patients and physicians need to be prepared to address this aspect of their care. Although these financial discussions may present some challenges, physicians already participate in difficult discussions with patients about opiate abuse, domestic violence, and end-of-life decisions. To provide truly patient-centered care, physicians can live up to the mantra of First, do no harm by not only caring for their patients health, but also for their financial well-being.
4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Are you a hospital inpatient or outpatient? if you have Medicareask! CMS Product No. 11435. http://www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/11435.pdf. 2011. Accessed May 21, 2013. 5. Graham JD, Potyk D, Raimi E. Hospitalists awareness of patient charges associated with inpatient care. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(5):295-297. 6. Berwick DM, Hackbarth AD. Eliminating waste in US health care. JAMA. 2012;307(14): 1513-1516. 7. Cassel CK, Guest JA. Choosing Wisely: helping physicians and patients make smart decisions about their care. JAMA. 2012;307(17):1801-1802.
Foundation. Dr Arora reported receiving grant funding from the ABIM Foundation. REFERENCES 1. Schoen C, Collins SR, Kriss JL, Doty MM. How many are underinsured? trends among U.S. adults, 2003 and 2007. Health Aff (Millwood). 2008;27(4): w298-w309. 2. Gill L. Risky prescription drug practices are on the rise in a grim economy. Consumer Reports. http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2011/09 /risky-prescription-drug-practices-are-on-the-risein-a-grim-economy.html. September 27, 2011. Accessed November 15, 2012. 3. Pronovost PJ, Berenholtz SM, Goeschel C, et al. Improving patient safety in intensive care units in Michigan. J Crit Care. 2008;23(2):207-221.
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