Physicians Must Enroll in Blue Cross Healthy Families Program by March 31
As a reminder, Blue Cross is requiring physicians to sign a separate contract by no later than March 31 and accept reduced rates to continue treating Blue Cross-insured Healthy Families and AIM patients. This is six months beyond the previous deadline of September 1, 2009. Physicians with Prudent Buyer contracts but who have not signed the new Healthy Families/AIM contract must do so by March 31st to continue to participate in the Blue Cross Healthy Families program. Physicians will be paid 125 percent of Medi-Cal for most Healthy Families services. Physicians who have decided not to sign the new contract can refer patients to Blue Cross for help locating a participating provider. Healthy Families patients can call 800/845-3604, AIM patients 877/687-0549. Physicians are encouraged to notify patients who would be affected by a decision not to sign the new contract, and the CMA has prepared a sample letter that physicians can use for this purpose.
News
- CalOSHA ATD Regulations
- CMA has released a new "On-Call" document to help physicians understand new CalOSHA standards that require employers in health care settings to protect employees from aerosol transmissible diseases.
- Medi-Cal Payments on Hold
- While most physicians continue to be paid for Medi-Cal claims, some Medi-Cal payments are being held up while the California Legislature negotiates a new State budget.
- PECOS Enrollment Update
- To ensure adequate time to process applications before the January 3, 2011. Medicare is strongly encouraging physicians who are not currently enrolled in PECOS to initiate Medicare enrollment.
- MBC Notice to Consumers
- California physicians are now required to provide a "Notice to Consumers" to notify patients that they are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California (MBC). Find resources to comply.