Sen. McCain forwards CIGNA/Linkia issue to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Daniel Gottry
Description
Collection
Title:
Sen. McCain forwards CIGNA/Linkia issue to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Creator:
Daniel Gottry
Date:
10/2/2006
Text:
A recent letter from Senator John McCain confirms that he has sent information on to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as this situation may fall within its jurisdication. You can see Senator McCain's letter at www.gottrys.com/leggo/ .
Specifically relative to Medicare and Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services certainly recognizes that a limited provider network can have monopoly power in its negotiation. It would appear that this should also be true in the case of insurance providers. This addressed this as it related to hospitals in:
Federal Register
/ Vol. 70, No. 18 / January 28, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 4625
We noted that in attempting to create region-wide networks, MA regional plans will be forced to bargain with hospitals that may be the only hospital (or the only hospital with a particular service or services) in a broad area. We believed that such a hospital would have a ''monopoly power'' in negotiating with plans that are, in effect, forced to contract with it in order to secure an adequate network of contracted providers with which to serve anticipated Medicare enrollees.
Hopefully this perspective has a broader scope than simply medicare!
To help make this an issue for investigation, express your concerns by writing to:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C.20201
----------------
Daniel Gottry
<Email Address Redacted>
480-491-1020
Visit: www.gottrys.com
Specifically relative to Medicare and Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services certainly recognizes that a limited provider network can have monopoly power in its negotiation. It would appear that this should also be true in the case of insurance providers. This addressed this as it related to hospitals in:
Federal Register
/ Vol. 70, No. 18 / January 28, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 4625
We noted that in attempting to create region-wide networks, MA regional plans will be forced to bargain with hospitals that may be the only hospital (or the only hospital with a particular service or services) in a broad area. We believed that such a hospital would have a ''monopoly power'' in negotiating with plans that are, in effect, forced to contract with it in order to secure an adequate network of contracted providers with which to serve anticipated Medicare enrollees.
Hopefully this perspective has a broader scope than simply medicare!
To help make this an issue for investigation, express your concerns by writing to:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C.20201
----------------
Daniel Gottry
<Email Address Redacted>
480-491-1020
Visit: www.gottrys.com
Citation
Daniel Gottry, “Sen. McCain forwards CIGNA/Linkia issue to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 4, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/227531.
