On Friday, Nov. 15, the Kentucky Department of Insurance (DOI) filed an amendment to alter a DOI administrative regulation, eliminating a burdensome in-person physician credentialing requirement.
As a reasonable regulator of the insurance industry, DOI oversees the development of uniform credentialing processes for healthcare providers. As part of Governor Matt Bevin’s Red Tape Reduction Initiative, DOI met with representatives from the Kentucky Medical Association and the Greater Louisville Medical Society to discuss opportunities to alleviate or remove unnecessary administrative procedures. The organizations identified duplicate in-person physician credentialing as a chief barrier to the timely processing of hospital privilege applications.
Under the current regulation, physicians and health care professionals wishing to practice at a healthcare facility must present a photo ID, in-person at the location where practice is desired during the application process. The regulation duplicates official identity verification already established by physician and nurse licensing boards, in addition to repeating hospital ID confirmation practices for employees. The replication creates credentialing delays, averaging 28 days, hinders patient access to care, increases physician burnout, and wastes healthcare resources.
“It was quite clear from the outset that the ‘in-person’ verification pre-requisite was a prime example of regulatory red tape that needed to be eliminated,” said Commissioner Nancy Atkins. “The delay is an unacceptable hindrance to patient access to healthcare.”
The proposed amendment will go through the standard public comment and hearing process through Jan. 31, 2020. If approved, the amendment will remove the in-person identification requirement, and allow providers to submit a copy of photo identification to apply for access to healthcare facilities. The modification removes administrative barriers to efficient practice for physicians and ultimately expands the number of providers, increasing patient access to healthcare.
The Kentucky Department of Insurance regulates the Commonwealth's insurance market, licenses agents and other insurance professionals, monitors the financial condition of companies, educates consumers to make wise choices, and ensures Kentuckians are treated fairly in the marketplace. To learn more about DOI, visit http://insurance.ky.gov/.