They say politics makes strange bedfellows. The rapid transformation of healthcare is making strange ones too.

If healthcare goes according to plan in 2014, most of the millions of uninsureds will have access to healthcare through state-based insurance exchanges.  And, it will be mandatory for most Americans to carry health insurance.   Could this be why primary care providers are so important to insurers?  There are shortages now of primary care doctors:  private practice doctors are being driven out of business for reasons such as of mandatory upgraded technology for electronic medical records, claims filing and capital for growth, etc.

What kind of shortages will there be in 2014?  Are they (insurance companies) simply insuring access to primary care doctors for their members?  These business arrangements are raising eyebrows among doctors, and of course angering competing insurance companies.  According the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, “I think this largely symptomatic of the disruption in the healthcare system.”

So what is going on?  Do insurance companies really want to employ doctors?  Is it a trend?  Are insurers attempting to simply to deliver healthcare?  Is there are larger point in the scheme of things?  Possibly…

According to recorded telephone calls, Blue Shield is now alleging that Monarch physicians are refusing to make appointments with Blue Shield members (patients)  and that Monarch is urging Blue Shield members to switch health plans.  Not only will this create fear, confusion and disruption, it would seem to be illegal.  But in this time of transparency and politics, what is illegal?  We would really like to know your thoughts.

Busch Chiropractic Pain Center, Fort Wayne IN

If you would like to read the complete article of Marriage of convenience: As they adapt to reform, insurers court historic adversaries: physician practices go to  http://tinyurl.com/78mqlw4

Filed under: Busch Chiropractic