TMA Applauds Attorney General Abbott For Protecting Patients

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 19 Apr 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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"TMA applauds Attorney General Greg Abbott for taking important action to protect Texas patients against one of Texas' largest health insurance companies - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

"TMA has asked state lawmakers for the past two legislative sessions to stop health plans from ranking physicians based on inaccurate and flawed claims data, and solely on cost. These ranking systems only serve to mislead employers and patients.

"We also are thrilled that General Abbott took steps to protect the physician's ability to make sound health care decisions based on what the patient needs - instead of what saves the health insurer money. Blue Cross was threatening to terminate physicians solely for referring their patients for medically needed treatments to qualified specialists that were outside the Blue Cross provider network.

"As stated by General Abbott, 'It is not appropriate to interfere with the protected doctor-patient relationship by terminating a doctor solely for making good faith out-of-network referrals for necessary care.'

"We agree completely and encourage all health insurance companies operating in Texas to adopt this same pro-patient approach."

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members. It is located inAustin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

Source
Texas Medical Association

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