Independence Blue Cross

SPOTLIGHT: PA insurers face merger scrutiny

Anne Zieger — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:41:39 -0400

For many months now, Pennsylvania health plans Independence Blue Cross and Highmark have been waiting for the chance to defend their planned merger--and now, at long last, they've gotten their hearing. However, they're not getting much love from observers. The merger, which would create the state's largest health insurer, has many critics. Among the toughest are the state's doctors, who argue that the merged entity would use its cloud to batter down doctors and hospitals on fees. Doctors voiced their concerns at a recent hearing on the merger run by the state's insurance commissioner. Article

PA health plans pay PCPs to track care

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:59:54 -0400

A group of Pennsylvania health plans have come together to create a program paying family doctors and other caregivers to manage patient care more closely. Among other things, the program will make providers more accessible to patients through phone calls and email, as well as educating patients in better self-care. Plans involved, which include Independence Blue Cross, Aetna and four other insurers, are looking to spend $13 million over three years to finance the first phase of the initiative. All told, more than 150 primary care doctors are participating within 32 primary care practices, and about 220,000 patients in southeastern Pennsylvania will participate, which makes this one of the largest efforts of its kind in the U.S. The program is part of Gov. Ed Rendell's chronic-care model for the state, which should rollout statewide by year-end.

To learn more about the program:
- read this Philadelphia Inquirer article

Related Articles:
Health plans, MD groups plan 'medical home' project
Humana debuts national complex care management program
Primary care MDs should manage chronic diseases

ALSO NOTED: PA schedules hearings on Independence/Highmark merger; Medical college group urges caution with pharma tech freebie

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:59:50 -0400

> More than a year after the deal was proposed, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has (finally) scheduled hearings to review public comments on the proposed merger of Independence Blue Cross of Philadelphia and Highmark Inc. Article

> A group representing U.S. medical colleges argues that while the pharmaceutical industry's technology gifts aren't getting as much attention as other freebies, they should be. FierceHealthIT

> Darn that pesky Public Citizen--its members get around. One day it's calling for the withdrawal of the Ortho Evra patch from the market, and now leading light Sidney Wolfe, M.D. is helping the FDA scrutinize expanded use of the painkiller, Fentora. FiercePharma

> The former CEO of Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital has filed a suit alleging that the hospital's chairwoman set up his firing so she could take his job. Article

And Finally... Clearly, he was overcome by the Dark Side of the Booze. Article