265.999 Third Party Reimbursement Mechanism:
MSSNY recognizes the validity of a pluralistic approach to third party reimbursement methodology and that indemnity, as well as UCR, have positive aspects which merit further study. It will continue its analysis of the merits of indemnity, service benefits, UCR, capitation, salary and other approaches to reimbursement of physicians. The House of Delegates in 1983 reaffirmed support for the following policies: 1) Freedom for physicians to choose the method of payment for their services and to establish what they believe to be fair and equitable fees; (2) Freedom of patients to select their source of care; and; (3) Neutral public policy and fair market competition among alternative health care delivery and financing systems.
The Society encourages physicians to provide fee information to patients and to discuss fees in advance of services, where feasible. It urges physicians to continue and to expand the practice of accepting third party reimbursement as payment in full in cases of financial hardship, and to voluntarily communicate to their patients through appropriate means, their willingness to consider such an arrangement in cases of financial hardship or other extenuating circumstances. (HOD 1983-3 & 83-46; Reaffirmed HOD 2013; Reaffirmed HOD 2023)
