Gold-card programs give providers exemptions from certain prior authorization requirements, but providers who have discontinued these programs have found them administratively difficult to implement, according to a Nov. 14 America's Health Insurance Plans survey.
The health insurer lobby and trade group conducted an industrywide survey on "prior authorization practices and gold carding experience of commercial plans" between February and April, according to the report. AHIP received responses from 26 plans, covering 122 million commercial enrollees.
Here are the top three reasons insurers said they discontinued gold card programs, according to the report:
1. Administratively difficult to implement: 75 percent
2. Reduced quality/patient safety: 50 percent
3. Higher costs without improved quality: 25 percent