2012 Patient Data Analysis Report Shows Rise in Number of Patients Denied

May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire

HAMPTON, Va., May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The oldest national non-profit organization providing patients with chronic, debilitating and/or life-threatening diseases with one-on-one case management addressing insurance obstacles, medical debt crisis and other barriers to health care today released its annual Patient Data Analysis Report (PDAR). The report issued by Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is a statistical analysis of the 109,147 patients from all 50 states assisted by PAF in 2012 and documents mediation and arbitration services necessary to resolve a variety of issues within the health care system as well as the initial impact of newly implemented health care laws.

PAF assisted patients from across the country and several territories; however 11.3 percent of all patient calls were from the state of Florida, followed by Texas (9.1%). The increase in number of requests for direct mediation was greatest in Ohio (47.1%) and Pennsylvania (27.9%).

In the 2012 report, for the first time the uninsured represented the largest group of patients served by PAF at 34.4%, an increase of more than 25% since 2011. Uninsured issues increased from 17.7% in 2011 to 19.1% in 2012 while debt crisis/cost of living issues decreased, suggesting PAF patients are facing more difficulties accessing care than affording care. The report shows specialty tiers for prescription drugs and
 drug shortages have impacted ability to access medications...........