News in brief - July 24/31, 2006

United expands recognition program - Panel to work on ID theft protection

United expands recognition program

Physicians certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and who participate in the board's Practice Improvement Module and Maintenance of Certification programs now will be recognized under UnitedHealth's Premium designation program.

United spokeswoman Lynne High said the Premium designation program, which began in October 2005, doesn't provide financial incentives but instead recognizes physicians who have met evidence-based standards for quality and efficiency. High said United is now extending the recognition to include physicians who complete ABIM certification programs.

Physicians who participate in the program are listed on the company's Web site next to icons that indicate the physician's level of quality and/or efficiency. Additional icons are now available for physicians with ABIM certification.

Panel to work on ID theft protection

Following on the heels of a spate of thefts of computers containing personal and medical information of millions of consumers and patients over the past several months, the American National Standards Institute and the Council of Better Business Bureaus announced in late June their intention to establish a new standards body to develop identity theft prevention and management standards.

The prospective panel will identify existing published standards and those already in development that could be useful in addressing identity theft issues.

It also will identify areas of need, which could include developing protocols for accessing, managing, storing and disposing of sensitive customer data; employee qualifications and training to handle sensitive data, and remedies to quickly recapture and restore the integrity of stolen identities or other personally identifiable information.