Here's an interesting take on health plan cost-cutting. Hoping to lower imaging expenses, Ohio's Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is arming its physicians with quality and cost information on its various contracted imaging providers. Anthem is providing physicians with an online tool, developed by sister company American Imaging Management, which will offer data on CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and PET scan services.
Data on the providers will include staff certifications, equipment quality and patient accessibility information. The data will also include quality scores, drawing on nationally-recognized standards, for each imaging service offered and for each site as a whole. In addition, physicians will be given the average allowed payment amount for the provider.
To learn more about Anthem's approach:
- read this Business Courier of Cincinnati piece
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