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Do you see TRICARE patients? Check out CMA's new toolkit to assist physicians with the transition

On January 1, 2018, Health Net Federal Services (HNFS) will begin providing managed care services to 2.9 million TRICARE beneficiaries in the 21 western states, including California. HNFS took over the contract previously held by UnitedHealthcare Military and Veterans’ Services. In preparation for the transition, the California Medical Association (CMA) has prepared a TRICARE Transition Guide to help physicians understand the impact the transition will have on their practices. The guide is available free to members in the CMA resource library.

Updated payor profiles for 2017 now available

The California Medical Association’s (CMA) Center for Economic Services is publishing updated profiles on each of the major payors in California including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, CIGNA, Health Net, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare/Noridian and Medi-Cal. Each profile includes key information on health plan market penetration; a description of the plan’s dispute resolution process; and the name and contact numbers for medical directors, provider relations, and other key contacts.  Don’t waste your time searching the internet for this information – members can download CMA’s Payor Profiles free of charge ...

State's high court rules health plans cannot negligently delegate payment responsibility

The California Supreme Court today ruled that health plans cannot absolve themselves of the responsibility to pay claims for emergency care by noncontracted providers by negligently delegating that responsibility to a risk-bearing organization that it knows—or should have known—to be financially insolvent. "Today's ruling is a huge victory for physicians," said Francisco Silva, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the California Medical Association (CMA). "California's high court is unequivocally telling health plans they cannot get away with this morally blameworthy behavior. They cannot irresponsibly delegate risk and leave physicians ...

Health Net Federal Services awarded Tricare contract beginning late 2017

Health Net Federal Services (HNFS) has been awarded the contract for managed care support (MCS) for the Tricare West Region, replacing the current MCS contractor, United Military and Veteran Services. Under the $17.7 billion contract, HNFS will provide direct medical care and administrative support services to Tricare beneficiaries throughout the 19 state western region, which includes California. According to HNFS, a nine-month transition period is expected, with an anticipated start of health care delivery sometime in mid-2017. HNFS has been the managed care contractor for the Tricare North Region since ...

Health Net modifying exchange/mirror products

Health Net recently announced changes to its exchange/mirror products offered for 2015. In a notice mailed to select physicians, the insurer said it will be offering an Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) and a Health Care Service Plan (HSP) for its individual exchange/mirror products effective January 1, 2015. Though not explicitly stated in the notice, the California Medical Association (CMA) has confirmed the insurer will not be offering a PPO product in the individual exchange/mirror market. The EPO will be called PureCare One and the HSP will be called PureCare. Patients will ...

Three major exchange plans provide guidance for physicians

Three major managed care payors offering coverage through Covered California have provided additional information to their contracted providers on their exchange/mirror products. Together, these three payors – Health Net, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California – account for approximately 75 percent of enrollment in Covered California products to date.   The notices, sent to physicians within the past few weeks, were cobranded with Covered California and contain additional information to help providers navigate the exchange.   The Health Net notice, sent on March 7, includes information such as the exchange/mirror products ...