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.
Managed Satisfaction
While Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) may not be popular with health care providers, consumers often prefer them. A survey that queried 10,000 consumers found the following percentages completely or very satisfied:
Health Plan Satisfaction
HMOs - 63.6%
PPOs - 50.0%
Traditional Plans - 55.1%
Medicare Only - 40.7%
Percentage of consumers completely satisfied or very satisfied with their health plan.
SOURCE: National Research Corp. survey.