Profession
Blues settlement facilitator appointed
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 13, 2008
A compliance dispute facilitator was appointed in September to help doctors enforce a $130 million class-action settlement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans nationwide.
Doctors who say a Blues plan has not adhered to the agreement to change business practices can file a complaint with the facilitator, who will review it and represent them in valid compliance disputes. Doctors also may file grievances with the help of the American Medical Association or one of the 27 state medical societies that signed on to the settlement.
The appointment of the facilitator came after a Florida federal court in April gave final approval to the deal between the nation's doctors and more than 30 Blues subsidiaries over alleged improper payment tactics. Compliance dispute forms and settlement information are available online (link) and (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/10/13/prbf1013.htm.












