If a patient's cholecystectomy is denied due to "preauthorization required," what should the medical assistant do?

The correct approach when a patient's cholecystectomy is denied due to the requirement for preauthorization is to submit an appeal for the denied claim. This option is appropriate because it directly addresses the denial by requesting a review of the decision made by the insurance company. An appeal allows the healthcare provider to present additional information or documentation that supports the medical necessity of the procedure, which may convince the insurer to approve the cholecystectomy.

In this scenario, while contacting the insurer for clarification can be helpful in understanding the reason behind the denial and obtaining more information about the preauthorization process, it does not take action toward securing the approval for the surgery. Rescheduling the surgery or filing a complaint with the facility does not resolve the issue with the insurance coverage and would be premature without first attempting to appeal the decision or clarify the requirement with the insurer. Therefore, submitting an appeal is the most proactive step to facilitate the patient's necessary treatment.