Physician-Insurance Plan Contractual Relations

The WSMA reaffirms its position that health insurance company contracts shall not intrude upon the essential elements of the patient-physician relationship. Physician gag clauses, Wickline clauses, and health insurance companies' claims to being "sole definers of medical necessity" are antithetical to quality patient care. (Info Rpt 9, A-98) (Reaffirmed A-17)

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Abbreviations for House of Delegates report origination:

EC – Executive Committee; BT – Board of Trustees; CPA – Council on Professional Affairs; JC – Judicial Council; CHS – Community and Health Services