PHYSICIANS: CMA To Survey Docs On Health Plan Quality
The California Medical Association is working with the MEDSTAT Group to conduct a survey of physicians' opinions of health plans in the state. The survey, which was "mailed this week to physicians in the San Francisco Bay Area, greater Los Angeles and the Central Valley," questions physicians about the quality of health plans. "The data will be used to profile health plans from a physician perspective and to assess [independent practice associations] and physician groups in some areas," Physician Leader reports. Dr. Jack Lewin, CEO of CMA, said, "The results will help physicians make decisions on whether to participate with IPAs and health plans. The IPAs and plans will have the ability to use the data to make changes that will increase their effectiveness." Dennis Becker, senior vice president of MEDSTAT, noted that "physicians' opinions often mirror those of health plan enrollees." He said, "We will be using the physician data to determine which plans are applying acceptable controls and which plans are doing the best job overall." Survey results will be available in June.
Time For Training
Physician Leader also reports that the state Department of Health Services "will offer in-depth training on Healthy Families and Medi-Cal application packages and will certify physicians and their office personnel to assist people with the application process." Any physicians wishing to sign up patients in their office must have someone from their office attend the workshops. DHS will make applications for the training available in "late May or June." In addition, DHS "is sponsoring free introductory workshops on the Healthy Families program for communities throughout the state." For more information on these workshops, call (510) 649-1464 (Bland, 3/12).