PacifiCare
UnitedHealth admits to big loss of PacifiCare patients
UnitedHealth Group's current troubles apparently go beyond ongoing investigations into stock option grant-backdating. At an investor conference this week, UnitedHealth executives said that they're... 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...
ALSO NOTED: Norway pledges $1B to fight infant deaths; Network hopes to improve sickle cell care; and much more...
> Norway has pledged one billion dollars to fight infant mortality and childbirth deaths in the developing world. Read more...
CA accuses UnitedHealth of 'unfair' practices
The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has issued a cease and desist order against UnitedHealthcare division PacifiCare of California, contending the health plan engaged in "dishonest and unfair" business practices. While the scale of the case is relatively small--it involves about 500 patients enrolled with a medical group in Redwood City--the matter is significant. It's only the second time in the DMHC's six-year history that it has issued such an order. What's …
... Read more...Report card on CA doctors coming
A large California health purchasing group is joining hands with some of the state's large health plans and Medicare to produce report cards on individual physician performance. The effort, which is led by the Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH), will draw data from Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of California and PacifiCare/UnitedHealth to create the report cards. The effort is part …
... Read more...Calif. group pays out $55M in P4P incentives
It's always nice to see that there's light at the other end of the pay for performance tunnel, namely, a big fat pile of cash. In this case, a group of seven California health plans has paid big bonuses to high performers on their roster, which includes 35,000 physicians working in 210 medical practices. This year's $55 million payout, as in previous years, went to physician groups who performed best on clinical care, patient satisfaction and smart use of IT during 2005. Among the most …
... Read more...Study:Large groups provide higher-quality care
While consumers may assume that high-touch smaller practices can provide better care, a new study suggests that larger integrated physician groups perform better on a series of standard quality measures. The study, which appears in the current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined three preventative care measures and three chronic disease management measures. The researchers based their findings on data collected from 119 California groups contracting with PacifiCare …
... Read more...Press Release: Larger Physician Practices May Provide Higher-Quality Care
Press Release: Larger Physician Practices May Provide Higher-Quality Care
... Read more...Group names top CA medical groups
The Integrated Healthcare Association, a California-based group including health plans, medical groups and health systems, has released a list of the top-performing medical groups among the 228 medical practices participating in its pay-for-performance program. The IHA named 46 groups, or 20 percent, as meeting top standards for quality, patient satisfaction and appropriate use of information technology. The ratings come from an analysis of 2005 measurement year, and included data from …
... Read more...UnitedHealth Group faces criminal inquiry
Prosecutors in Manhattan have launched a criminal investigation into stock-option grants to senior executives at UnitedHealth. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based health insurer also said the IRS has asked for access to documents, suggesting that an investigation into tax issues may be a possibility. For weeks, the consensus has been that it is unlikely that CEO William McGuire will resign as a result of the affair. Criminal charges could change things in the blink of an eye. UnitedHealth …
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