Doctors, hospitals expect confusion as ACA plans start

Hospitals and medical practices across the United States braced for confusion and administrative hassles as new insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect Wednesday. More than 2 million people enrolled in private plans offered under the ACA during the initial sign-up period for health benefits. Enrollment began in October and lasts through March.

As more newly enrolled patients seek care, confusion could result. For example, confirming a patient’s plan might be problematic if there were data transmittal errors during the enrollment process, Reuters reported. Some organizations didn’t expect much confusion, though. "Hospitals feel like they're pretty well prepared because they've had systems in place and tools in place to work through these sorts of issues," Jeff Goldman, vice president of coverage policy for the American Hospital Association, told Reuters. "We expect an uptick in volume, but we don't think it's anything beyond what most hospitals are prepared to handle.”