Most of our articles on this blog highlight problems with health care providers and health care system. Well, this time we are rooting for the doctors!
A new policy announced by mega-health insurer, UnitedHealth Group, Inc., threatens to fine doctors who refer patients to out-of-network laboratories for medical tests. Most current health plans require members to pay more when they go to an out-of-network doctor or take nonpreferred medications. The current policy is obviously not enough to satisfy some health insurance companies and their drive to increase profits. UnitedHealth now wants to enforce a financial penalty upon doctors who send their patients to out-of-network laboratories. The policy change appears to stem from a 10 year deal which UnitedHealth struck with Laboratory Corp. of America to become its national in-network laboratory.
The American Medical Association has demanded UnitedHealth rescind the policy. Read the AMA’s position here.
Is the fox now guarding the hen house?