Whereas, the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the development of a Health Insurer Code of Conduct; and

Whereas, healthcare providers and patients are too often subjected to restrictive health plan coverage policies and payment practices that serve to limit patient access to care, and undermine the integrity of the physician-patient relationship; and

Whereas, health plan policies and practices such as overly restrictive formularies, burdensome preauthorization procedures and delays in reimbursements all serve to limit patient access to clinically effective medical procedures, diagnostics and approved therapies; and

Whereas, the adoption of a voluntary Health Insurer Code of Conduct establishing clear and concise principles addressing both medical care policies and payment issues would benefit patient care by encouraging health plans to voluntarily modify their restrictive practices; be it therefore

Resolved, that the undersigned encourage the AMA to expeditiously develop the Health Insurer Code of Conduct and call upon health plans to voluntarily adopt the Code of Conduct.