SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Oct. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) strives to maintain the highest possible level of partnership with its providers. In a clear expression of this commitment, IEHP on Oct. 18 made its initial payment for the first quarter of 2013 to IEHP physicians eligible for Medicare increases granted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The ACA provides an increase for eligible primary care and associated subspecialist physicians serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries to Medicare rates for 2013-2014 for specified primary care services. IEHP is making this initial payment to their network of eligible physicians, despite not yet receiving any funds for the increase from the State.
"We are pleased to make these early payments to our providers and will continue to make payments to them for the Medicare rate increase, I only wish we could have started even earlier," said IEHP Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bradley Gilbert.
The first payment, made for eligible encounters during the first quarter of 2013, totaled more than $7 million to 392 physicians. The average payment was approximately $18,000 per physician for the quarter, although several payments ranged from $50,000 to above $100,000. IEHP plans to issue an additional payment in November.
"We are impressed with the integrity IEHP has shown to provide these payments to their providers, and we applaud the health plan's commitment to its providers and their patients in the Inland Empire," said Richard Thorp, MD, California Medical Association (CMA) president. "At CMA, we have long advocated that patients have access to care and the commitment from IEHP is a continued step in that direction."
Physicians who provided primary care services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in 2013 must attest on the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) web site that they are eligible to receive the payment increase. So far, only approximately 50 percent of eligible IEHP providers have attested. IEHP is strongly encouraging all IEHP providers to attest and fully submit their eligible encounters. Physicians who have not yet attested can do so online at http://bit.ly/1chQpO4.
About IEHP
IEHP, Inland Empire Health Plan, a Knox-Keene licensed health plan located in San Bernardino, California, is a not-for-profit public agency. IEHP services San Bernardino and Riverside counties and has more than 645,000 members in the following programs: Medi-Cal (including seniors and people with disabilities), Healthy Kids, and a Medicare Special Needs Plan. Through a dynamic partnership with providers, award-winning service and innovative products, IEHP is fully committed to providing members with quality, accessible and wellness based healthcare services. iehp.org
SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)