Re: Highmark Inc. to pay .9 million class action settlement for shortchanging docs
From: art fougner, md (evsono@pipeline.com)
Wed Jan 9 14:40:32 2008
Only one who benefits from mass tort action is the attorney. Class
dismissed.
Art
At Wed, 9 Jan 2008, William D. McIntosh, M.D wrote:
>
>$11 apiece? Did I do the math right? That doesn't even cover the costs
>of re-filing a single denied payment.
>
>William McIntosh MD, FACOG
>
>Clarksville, TN
>
>________________________________
>
>________________________________
>From: ob-gyn-l@obgyn.net [mailto:ob-gyn-l@obgyn.net] On Behalf Of
>
>--
>________________________________
>GIN11153@aol.com
>________________________________
>Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 1:24 PM
>To: Multiple recipients of list OB-GYN-L
>Subject: Highmark Inc. to pay $9.9 million class action settlement for
>shortchanging docs
>
>Service Reimbursements
>
>Pittsburgh, PA: (Jan-04-08) A class action lawsuit was brought against
>Highmark Inc. over the way the company handled business with doctors.
>The suit also covered claims that were filed in 2003 against Blue Cross
>Blue Shield plans nationwide. Sources stated that the suit against
>Highmark included more than 90 percent of the Blue Cross plans and other
>big insurers. As part of a settlement reached, the company agreed to pay
>$9.9 million and change business practices to resolve allegations.
>
>The payout is said to compensate some 900,000 doctors who claimed
>Highmark had shortchanged them in reimbursement for services from 1999
>through 2007. Sources close to the case stated that the agreement with
>Highmark was reached in November, and doctors have until Jan. 14 to
>object or opt out of the settlement. The deadline for claims is Feb. 27,
>2008 and a hearing on the terms will be held Feb. 11 in Miami. The
>amount each doctor will receive is dependent on a number of factors;
>including the amount Highmark was billed. [PITTSBURGH BUSINESS JOURNAL:
>DOCTOR REIMBURSEMENTS]
>
>________________________________
>
>________________________________
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--
art fougner, md
"May The Wings of Liberty Never Lose a Feather." - Jack Burton
