California Could Be First State To Limit Patient Wait Times
Proposed regulations in California would set a maximum number of hours health plan enrollees could wait before seeing a physician. Under the proposed rules, patients needing an "urgent" appointment for a service not requiring prior authorization must be seen within 48 hours, while patients needing urgent appointments requiring prior authorization must be seen within 96 hours. Health plans and physicians oppose the proposal.
- "Proposal Would Require Health Plans, Doctors To Cut Appointment Wait Times" (Clark, HealthLeaders Media, 5/22).