Prompt input:
“Write a letter to the insurance company who is denying cervical length surveillance for a patient with a short cervix and add references.”
ChatGPT response:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Date]
[Insurance Company Name]
[Claims Department]
[Insurance Company Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Re: Request for Reconsideration – Cervical Length Surveillance
Policy Number: [Policy Number]
Insured: [Patient’s Name]
Date of Birth: [Patient’s Date of Birth]
Claim Number: [Claim Number]
Date of Service: [Date of Service]
Dear Claims Reviewer,
I am writing to request a reconsideration of the denial for cervical length surveillance for my patient, [Patient’s Name], who has been diagnosed with a short cervix. As a healthcare provider, I strongly believe that this is a medically necessary service for the patient in order to prevent preterm birth and its associated complications.
A short cervix is a well-established risk factor for preterm birth, and numerous studies have shown the efficacy of cervical length surveillance in the prevention and management of preterm birth. I kindly request that you reconsider the coverage for this essential service and refer to the following authoritative sources:
Berghella, V., & Saccone, G. (2019). Fetal fibronectin testing for reducing the risk of preterm birth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(7). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004843.pub3
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2016). Practice Bulletin No. 171: Management of Preterm Labor. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 128(4), e155-e164. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001711
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), McIntosh, J., Feltovich, H., Berghella, V., & Manuck, T. (2016). The role of routine cervical length screening in selected high- and low-risk women for preterm birth prevention. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 215(3), B2-B7. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.03.015
By denying coverage for cervical length surveillance, the insurance company is putting [Patient’s Name] at an increased risk for preterm birth and the numerous health complications that can accompany it, both for the mother and the infant. It is crucial to provide this service in order to improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of costly neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions and long-term medical issues.
I kindly request that you review this case with the provided references and reconsider the coverage for cervical length surveillance for [Patient’s Name]. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please feel free to contact me if you require any further information or clarification.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
The document took less than 15 seconds to generate, it is well written and concise, and can also be utilized as a template for future use. But as mentioned above, it is important to confirm all the information within the document. For example, references 1 and 3 in the ChatGPT-generated letter above include document objective identifiers that do not correctly correspond to the reference.
Other uses that the reader might consider: patient education, helping to answer a patient question utilizing appropriate grade-level language, dietary plans for a patient - the potential list is endless. Another key aspect of utilizing these types of programs is understanding how to effectively ask a question. This involves providing ample detail about the inquiry you wish to have answered by the program. With some practice and review of guidance on how to do this from the Internet, one can become highly proficient at crafting questions and generating relevant responses. But as mentioned above, it is important to keep in mind that all information generated by this program needs to be vetted prior to utilization.
This groundbreaking technology is not only here to stay but will continue to become increasingly pervasive. It is already being integrated into conventional search engines such as Google and Bing. Microsoft has ambitious plans to incorporate this innovation into its entire suite of Office products. Just imagine working on a document and seeking assistance for editing or rephrasing, effortlessly searching your inbox for all emails containing a specific phrase or topic, or even crafting a PowerPoint presentation for a lecture while receiving help with both content and formatting. These scenarios offer just a glimpse of how AI programs can significantly assist and enhance our workflow.
I also anticipate that our patients will increasingly adopt this type of technology to generate customized lists of questions tailored to their specific medical conditions, which they can then ask their health care providers. Often, our patients express uncertainty about the appropriate questions to ask during a particular visit. Now envision a scenario in which they can effortlessly obtain a comprehensive list of relevant questions, specifically designed for their office consultation. This would empower them to engage more actively in their health care and enhance communication with their clinical team.
I highly recommend that readers explore and experiment with these programs. By doing so, we can provide valuable assistance and guidance not only within our specific medical specialties but also for our patients. In this way, we can effectively harness the power of technology to improve patient care and optimize our office work flow, ultimately benefiting both our patients and our practices.
Dr. Chavez is professor, department of obstetrics and gynecology, at NYU Long Island School of Medicine and director of maternal and fetal medicine at NYU Langone Hospital–Long Island, both in Mineola, N.Y. He has no disclosures.