cross blue news from FierceHealthcare
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Insurers not happy with concierge medicine
A number of insurers aren't too pleased with the small but growing trend of "concierge medicine." For an annual retainer fee, patients can have more personalized care, which may include house calls... Read more...
BCBS of MI promoting coverage pool for individuals
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has been spending big bucks to promote what it considers to be a perfectly reasonable proposal--to create a health insurance coverage fund for people who have been... Read more...
Without Blue plan, P4P stumbling in Arizona
While pay-for-performance programs are proliferating in some states, they're stumbling in Arizona, according to a new report. The report, by HealthLeaders-Interstudy, found that until state leader... Read more...
Aetna, WellPoint refuse payment for serious errors
As expected, large private health insurers are beginning to follow Medicare's lead in cutting off reimbursement for care resulting from serious errors. Aetna and WellPoint have begun to include... Read more...
Another two health plans agree to NY doctor-rankings system
It's becoming a stampede. Two more health plans operating in New York state have joined CIGNA, Read more...
MGMA: MI group wins at pay-for-performance
Today, everyone's wondering how to make pay-for-performance worth their trouble. For one Michigan medical group, managing a pay-for-performance incentive program successfully is calling for a mix... Read more...
CA managed care plans lack in preventive care
A new report suggests that California's managed care plans aren't doing a great job when it comes to preventive care. The California Office of the Patient Advocate has issued a report comparing how... Read more...
DC investigates CareFirst provider contracts
The D.C. attorney general's office has begun investigating whether metro DC-area health plan CareFirst has structured its contracts with providers to give it an unfair advantage over competitors. The... Read more...
Texas doctors fight back in MD ratings dispute
Concerned about several health insurers' decision to rate and rank physicians, a Texas medical group has decided to fire back with ratings on insurers. The Harris County Medical Society, working with... Read more...
BCBS tests imaging with Michigan hospitals
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has struck a partnership with 21 Michigan hospitals under which the group will work to better leverage coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). The idea is to see whether CCTA could someday replace the use of standard cardiac catheterization. In the past, the BCBS plan hadn't covered CCTA, but starting this month, hospitals participating in the program will be reimbursed for the test if they're part of the plan's PPO, Point of Service or Blue …
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