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Article: Talking points; Some wary of Blues association's guidelines for working with physicians.(Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Modern Healthcare
- Article date:
- May 28, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association released a set of clinically oriented guidelines earlier this month out of what it called ``a sincere desire'' to foster better communication and trust between the nation's physicians and its 45 member plans, which cover 80 million Americans.
Skeptics, however, said the document is simply another self-policing promise designed to head off the passage of federal patient-protection regulations, which could greatly restrict managed-care practices and increase insurers' liability. The guidelines are voluntary, so individual Blues plans are not required to adhere to them to maintain their Blues licenses.
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