the hospital and physician community applaud the … · · 2018-04-18credential physicians,”...
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FORIMMEDIATERELEASE MEDIACONTACTS:SaraFleuryorGregSexton602-380-9013sfleury@santy.com480.688.0766gsexton@santy.comTheHospitalandPhysicianCommunityApplaudthePassageofa
StreamlinedPhysicianCredentialingProcessinArizonaHB2322requiresinsurancecompaniestocredentialphysiciansin100daysorless
PHOENIX–(April18,2018)–HB2322,whichwasunanimouslypassedbytheArizonaLegislatureandsignedbyArizonaGov.DougDucey,willensureinsurancecompaniescompletetheprocesstocredentialandloadphysiciansintotheirnetworkssotheyareabletotreatpatientsinamoretimelyfashion.Thebill,supportedbytheHealthSystemAllianceofArizona,theArizonaHospitalandHealthcareAssociation,ArizonaOsteopathicMedicalAssociationandtheArizonaMedicalAssociation,wassponsoredbyRep.HeatherCarter.Thisimportantlegislationincreasestheefficiencyoftheprocessbywhichhealthplansverifytheeducationandqualificationsofproviderswhoseekcontractsintheirplansandthenloadthoseproviders’contractinformationintotheirbillingsystemsbyrequiringthatbothprocessesbecompletedin100daysorless.Currently,physiciansundergoingthisprocessfacedelaysthatcantakeinexcessofninemonths.Thesedelaysleadtoreimbursementshortfallsforphysicians,gapsinaccesstocareforpatientsawaitingreferralstospecialistsandplaceshospitalsatacompetitivedisadvantagewhentryingtorecruitphysiciansfromotherstateswherethecredentialingandloadingprocessworksmoreefficiently.“Arizonans’accesstocareiscompromisedwhenittakesanexcessiveamountoftimetocredentialphysicians,”saidArizonaMedicalAssociationExecutiveVicePresidentLibbyMcDannell.“Thislegislationensuresdoctorsareputtingpatients,notpaperwork,first.”“TheHealthSystemAllianceofArizonawouldliketothankGov.DuceyforsigningthisbillandRepresentativeCarterforherleadershipinthepassageofthiscriticalpiecelegislation,”saidHealthSystemAllianceofArizonaExecutiveDirectorJenniferCarusetta.“Thisnewlawwillresult
inbetterandmoreefficientcareforpatientsthroughoutArizonaandwillimproveourabilityashospitalsystemstorecruitthebestandbrightestmindsinhealthcaretothisgreatstate.”“OnbehalfoftheArizonaHospitalandHealthcareAssociation(AzHHA)andourmembers,IapplaudstatelegislatorswhounanimouslypassedthisimportantmeasureinboththeArizonaSenateandHouse,”saidAzHHAPresidentandCEOGregVigdor.“Aspecial‘thankyou’isduetothesponsorofthebill,Rep.HeatherCarter,whoseleadershipwasvitalingettingthislegislationthroughthelegislativeprocess.”“Wearegratefultothelegislators,stakeholdersandfellowhealthcarecommunityleaderswhocametogethertoaddressthisissueandcomeupwithaworkable,necessarysolution,”saidArizonaOsteopathicMedicalAssociationExecutiveDirectorPeteWertheim.“Thisbillwillprovideinsurersample,reasonabletimetocredentialphysiciansandallowthemtogettoworkdoingwhattheydobest:caringforpatients.”HB2322willtakeeffectonJanuary1,2019.
###AboutHealthSystemAllianceofArizonaFormedin2015,theHealthSystemAllianceofArizonaisanadvocacyorganizationofhealthsystemscomprisedofnearlyallsegmentsofthehealthcareindustryincludingphysicians,nurses,emergencycare,pharmacycare,insurance,rehabilitationcenters,academicmedicineandotherancillaryservices.ThemissionoftheHealthSystemAllianceofArizonaistoprovideadvocacy,educationandpartnershiptopolicymakers,businessleadersandstakeholderstoensureasustainable,quality-drivenhealthcaredeliverysystemforthebenefitofArizonacommunities.