Thursday, 1 November 2007
CIGNA To Release Information On Doctors’ Performance
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and health insurer CIGNA signed an agreement early this week that will show how the insurance company ranks doctors in their network.
Under the agreement, CIGNA will rate doctors their overall performance and quality of health care delivery. They will make this information available to the public and its policyholders. Every six months, an independent national organization will review CIGNA’s rating system, reported USA Today.
“A carefully designed physician-ranking program can provide valuable information to consumers,” said a letter from the Attorney General’s office.
Such review systems have been opposed by most doctors. But under CIGNA’s agreement, doctors will be able to appeal any potentially erroneous ratings.
“[The agreement provides a] balanced approach that acknowledges physician ratings have a risk of error and should not be the sole basis for selecting a physician,” said the president of the American Medical Association, Nancy Nielson.
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