California Urological Association

QUESTION & ANSWER
Blue Cross 2007 Fee Schudule
By Jeffrey Kaufman MD, FACS
California Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee, WSAUA Health Policy Chair, AACU Past-President

QUESTION:
Concerning Blue Cross' proposed change in fee schedule for 2007, is this state wide or more of a local issue?

ANSWER:
We share your great concern regarding the remarkably unfavorable contract from Blue Cross. We tried in vain to negotiate with them but ran into a stone wall. Their attitude is that physicians either take it or leave it. However, we have found a great many urologists who dropped the Blue Cross contract this year leaving patients to decide whether they would continue with their urologist out of network paying cash, change insurance coverage or change doctors. Many urologists who found the contract rates below acceptable have decided to show their displeasure by refusing to sign up. At the same time, many physician leaders have encouraged physicians to refuse to participate in unacceptable contracts. Weurge you to consider your unique financial situation and make a decision that works best for your circumstances. Perhaps if more doctors refused to go along with progressive cutbacks in payment and privilege, we would see stabilization in the market. Until then, the executive officers of Blue Cross will continue to enjoy enormous financial bonuses, their wall street partners will continue to collect obscene profits, doctors will realize financial losses and their patients suffer. I like Nancy Reagan's approach to drug abuse. At some time, we will have to learn to "Just Say NO".

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