PFFS plans now cost the government more per patient than traditional Medicare. Be informed and watch for the rate increases to perhaps roll in. There is a a little time left before this is law, but as the article states, insurers could possibly start ahead of time with creating networks, so the system as known is going to be a bit more restrictive, like everything else in healthcare. The change was needed though to keep our physicians from opting out of seeing Medicare patients though back in July due to the potential cuts that were hovering.
Being that the plans cost more, the government wants a hand in controlling cost and the new law kept many physicians still available, but how many will sign up with the new network plans I am guessing will all depend on the contracts, which are a constant issue today with both physicians and hospitals. BD
Under a law Congress passed in July, most PFFS plans will have to set up provider networks. The requirement won't be effective until 2011, but insurers like Humana have already started signing up physicians and hospitals to prepare for the switch. The company, one of the biggest players in Medicare Advantage, has 687,500 enrollees in its PFFS plans, known as Gold Choice.
Lawmakers used the change to help pay for reversing scheduled payment cuts to physicians. That reversal was the main goal of the new Medicare law.
0 comments :
Post a Comment