KAISER PERMANENTE: Announces Formation Of Arbitration Advisory Committee

      Kaiser Foundation Health Plan yesterday announced the creation of an Arbitration Advisory Committee to oversee its arbitration program in California. The committee was appointed as a result of recommendations to improve Kaiser's arbitration system. The recommendations were made by a Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel formed by Kaiser Permanente following criticism of its arbitration process. The Arbitration Advisory Committee was created to reflect a diversity of perspectives, including members, health care providers, purchasers, consumers and plaintiffs and defense attorneys. As such, the committee includes doctors, a health policy analyst, a lawyer, a labor leader, a health plan manager and a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The committee's role will be to provide advice to Kaiser Permanente regarding the selection of an Independent Administrator, and then to provide ongoing evaluation of the arbitration program (Kaiser release, 4/21). For past California Healthline coverage of Kaiser's arbitration troubles, click here.