Psychologists ID Financial, Administrative Barriers to Accepting Insurance

THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Financial barriers are preventing many psychologists from participating in insurance networks, according to the results of the American Psychological Association 2024 Practitioner Pulse Survey released on Dec. 17.

The survey, conducted online and distributed via email, took place Sept. 4 to 30, with 853 responses.

According to the results of the survey, one-third of psychologists (34 percent) were not accepting any form of health insurance, with nearly half of them (48 percent) saying they had participated in insurance networks in the past. Nearly one in five respondents (18 percent) said that they had never participated with insurance in their careers. Among psychologists who quit insurance networks or never participated with insurance, 82 percent said that insufficient reimbursement rates were a primary reason for not taking insurance. Other reported barriers included administrative challenges (62 percent), such as preauthorization requirements and audits. More than half of respondents (52 percent) pointed to concerns about payment reliability, including delays in payment and refund demands as other barriers.

“These insurance hurdles are not only hurting psychologists — they are hurting the patients who need care the most,” Arthur C. Evans Jr., Ph.D., the CEO of the American Psychological Association, said in a statement.

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