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Is Ranking Physicians a Fair Practice?

By Vasilios J. Kalogredis
December 21, 2007

New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo recently spearheaded a statewide New York investigation into health insurers' use of physician-ranking programs. The investigation, which has made inquiries to insurers including United Healthcare, Aetna, CIGNA Healthcare, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Preferred Care and HIP Health Plan of NewYork/GHI, has now produced a settlement with CIGNA.

Although the investigation is specific to New York, the issues raised are national in scope and worth serious consideration, since health insurers nationwide are increasingly utilizing physician-ranking systems. The primary concern raised in this investigation is that such physician-ranking systems are concerned more with the insurer and/or the employer saving money than with providing insureds open and unbiased information regarding quality of care by a provider. This can possibly be deceiving to consumers and lead to health care choices by consumers for the cheapest, but not necessarily best quality, health care.

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