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American Medical News

 
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News in brief - Jan. 1/8, 2001


Economic profiling case postponed - Mass. doctor still awaiting verdict - Anthem emulates Ohio employers' plan -

Economic profiling case postponed

An Akron, Ohio, judge has postponed hearing a local internist's lawsuit challenging his termination from an HMO network after he refused to sign an "improvement plan" to lower the costs of the services he orders (AMNews, Dec. 18, 2000).

The case of Marwan Adjan, MD, against SummaCare Health Plan was to begin trial Dec. 5, 2000, but Summit County Judge Jane Bond postponed it until April 3 after Summa requested more time to review evidence.

Mass. doctor still awaiting verdict

Albert Ghassemian, MD, a Methuen, Mass., cardiologist, temporarily lost his license in July 2000 after he left threatening messages on a health plan's answering machine (AMNews, Sept. 11, 2000); the case still hasn't been resolved.

A state magistrate ruled that Dr. Ghassemian hadn't meant harm and recommended that he get his license back. However, the state licensing board ordered a rehearing by the same magistrate, and the results of that rehearing had not been announced as of Dec. 18, 2000.

Anthem emulates Ohio employers' plan

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield recently announced it would start what it calls a physician-friendly plan in Dayton, Ohio, similar to local employers' Tri-River Valley Healthcare Initiative that promises to put doctors in charge of care (AMNews, Nov. 6, 2000).

Like the Tri-River initiative, Anthem will still handle claims, underwriting and marketing but doctors in Paragon Health Systems will approve treatment decisions for Anthem's 315,0000 local members.

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Copyright 2001 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
 
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