Courtney Clayton, a medical assistant, knows more than she would like about the drain that insurance hurdles have on physician’s office staff. She described grappling with “about 22 messages every 48 hours from insurance companies or patients” related to prescription medications.
On the one hand, Clayton is pressing insurers: Why can’t patients get the medication? Why do they have to try four creams before they can get it? Making matters worse, it can be difficult to connect with an insurance representative with in-depth knowledge about the condition. “Sometimes, they can’t even pronounce the disease I’m asking medication for,” Clayton explained, “or the medication I’m talking about.”
Meantime, Clayton’s also dealing with frustrated patients. “You’re paying $200, $300, $400 a month on your insurance,” Clayton described, “And now they’re telling you that you can’t have your medication.”
Watch Courtney share her story on Capitol Hill.