In California they are looking for more regulations to keep the health insurance companies in line. I had just posted about the doctors in Texas going to court and Wyoming physicians deciding not to take Medicare or Medicaid this week.
Put all these together and it sure points to big issues with insurance companies and their claim payment practices., and it’s not just here in California where we have some of the lowest paying contracts in the country. The bill would allow for a few more “teeth” in the enforcement area, but it could face a veto as well.
And where are the big insurance companies going, new markets in China…Will the bigger dividends paid to stockholders be generated from sales in China? It can’t get much leaner at this end for the consumer, not to mention the expense. It can only go so far and the physicians are pushed to the limits. Fines have been levied and promptly paid, but nothing else seems to be changing as the insurance companies have huge “reserves of money” so they can take care of fines and legal services and pay out almost like a slot machine when penalized. Time for a new system and pooled source of revenue, as everyone is fighting over what is there now, or should I say what is not there, and the entire system is losing the battle. BD
SACRAMENTO -- California doctors won a victory against health insurers in Sacramento on Monday when the Assembly approved a bill to toughen the state's power to fine insurers for failing to pay medical bills. But the measure now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is coming under pressure from HMOs and his own regulators to issue a veto.
California Medical Assn. President Dr. Richard Frankenstein said the bill, if signed into law, could force HMOs to pay more than symbolic fines if they are found to have failed to reimburse doctors for tens of thousands of claims. Under the current penalty scheme, regulators often appear fearful of taking on large insurers such as Blue Cross, he said.
Bill would toughen state regulators' hand with insurers over doctors' pay - Los Angeles Times
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