In a landmark development, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has reached a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve antitrust claims brought by health care providers, including chiropractors. The lawsuit accused BCBS of dividing the nation into exclusive regions and limiting competition, which resulted in lower reimbursements for providers. Although BCBS denies any wrongdoing, the company agreed to the settlement to avoid lengthy litigation – and you can get a piece of the pie.
ChiroClinix.com to Disable Patient Stores
In the midst of legal concerns expressed by the National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys (NACA),1,2 Chiroclinix.com has decided not to offer online patient stores for chiropractors as originally marketed. In a recent email, Chiroclinix regional sales manager Tony Hall revealed:
"While Chiroclinix firmly believes that our e-commerce model meets all legal requirements for online product sales, we have decided that in the best interest of our subscribers that the online Patient Store be disabled in the near future. Chiroclinix has made this decision to ensure that all of our subscribers are not only satisfied with our service, but to ease any concern regarding the legal implications of selling products online."
References
- National Association of Chiropractic attorneys warns of e-commerce deals. Dynamic Chiropractic, January 1, 2001. (http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/19/01/07.html)