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AMA offers physician profiling comparison

A new comparison tool by the American Medical Association Private Sector Advocacy's practice management center lets physicians examine three major health plans' profiling programs side by side.

The chart includes key elements of Aetna's Aexcel program, Cigna's Care Network and UnitedHealthcare's Premium Designation program, as well as concerns the AMA has about each program.

The chart lists the specialties included in each program and includes a description of each program's quality and efficiency measurement processes, how many cases are used to profile physicians, how transparent the rating process is to patients and physicians, whether the data used are risk-adjusted, and what appeal process is available to physicians.

The chart is accessible online (www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/368/profiling-programs-chart.pdf).

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United launches GPS to help locate nearest doctor

Patients looking for a new physician may find there's an app for that.

United Healthcare recently launched its DocGPS application for the iPhone that enables users to find nearby doctors, hospitals or health centers that are in the United network. The application can search under 23 types of health care facilities and 58 physician specialties.

The free application uses the iPhone's built-in GPS system to locate the nearest medical facility of the type the user is seeking and provide name, location and directions. It also allows the user to call the facility with a single tap on the iPhone screen.

The application can be used by travelers in need of medical attention, United said.

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Medical waste handling deal goes ahead after antitrust clearance

Stericycle Inc., the country's largest provider of infectious waste collection and treatment, announced Dec. 7 that its $182.5 million purchase of MedServe Inc. would go forward. MedServe is the second-largest player in this industry.

The deal was first announced May 9, but the Justice Dept.'s Antitrust Division would not allow it to proceed unless MedServe sold to other buyers several facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. In addition, for the next decade, Stericycle is required to notify relevant government bodies before acquiring any other businesses engaged in the collection and processing of infectious waste in those states.

"Without the divestitures required by the department, critical health care facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma would have faced higher prices," said Christine A. Varney, assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Dept.'s Antitrust Division.

Stericycle's sales in 2008 were $858 million. MedServe's annual revenues were $35.6 million. The deal is expected to be completed by year's end.

This content was published online only.

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