News For: Blue Care Of MarylandBlue Shield of California Awards $29.5 Million in Pay-for-Performance Programs in 2008 As part of its ongoing commitment to providing high quality affordable health care, Blue Shield of California announced today that it is awarding $29.5 million in performance bonuses to medical groups and IPAs in California. Nearly half of the payments are part of the Integrated Healthcare Association IHA pay-for-performance program, which rewards providers for the quality of their health ... New Hanover Regional to open pediatric intensive care unit New Hanover Regional Medical Center's first pediatric intensive care unit, or PICU, is set to open in two months with six licensed beds in the new Betty H. Cameron Women's and Children's Hospital. Siteman Cancer Center to open 24/7 cancer care clinic The Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine will open a 24/7 cancer care clinic to give cancer patients an alternative to emergency rooms, where they expose their weakened immune systems to patients with infectious diseases. John Schwarz: McCain's Health Care Plan Would Limit State Regulatory Authority, Leaving People Vulnerable McCain's proposals would allow health insurers to offer the same health plans throughout the nation without any or little state oversight. Blue Shield of California awards $29.5M in bonuses to California medical groups Blue Shield of California said Tuesday it’s awarding $29.5 million in performance bonuses to California medical groups and IPAs this year, compared with $31 million last year. Early Glance: Managed Care companies NEW YORK Shares of some top managed care companies are mixed at 10 a.m.: Aetna fell $.64 or 1.7 percent, to $36.15. CIGNA fell $.01 or percent, to $34.50. Study notes health care disparities in Minnesota Minnesota medical groups are providing better quality care to patients with private health insurance than those covered through public programs, according to a report released Wednesday. Massachusetts lawmakers pass legislation to attract more primary care physicians to state as wait times for ... The average wait time for an appointment with a primary care physician in Massachusetts this year increased to 36 days from 34 days in 2007, according to an annual study by the Massachusetts Medical Society, the AP/Boston Herald reports AP/Boston Herald, 9/22. Blue Cross & Blue Shield Goes Green Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas had employees dancing in their courtyard as they learned how to help preserve the earth. Healthcare Insurer Medical Mutual and VITAS Innovative Hospice Care Sign Multi-State Agreement VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® and Medical Mutual have signed a national agreement to ensure access to quality hospice services for Medical Mutual members who reside in major metro markets served by VITAS. |




