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Lillian MacEachern

Publications and source records attributed to Lillian MacEachern.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Finance issue brief: health care claims payment: prompt payment: year end report-2002.

Since the mid 1990's state legislators and regulators have worked to resolve the complex issue of timely payment of health care claims. They have been challenged with bridging the communication gap between provider and payor and forced to address such base problems as what determines a correctly billed service. As time has progressed it is ever apparent that the completion of payment for services is dependent on many variables, not just simply timely processing of a claim.

Forecasting↗

Finance issue brief: HMO medical directors: year end report-2002.

Medical directors of managed care organizations have the ultimate responsibility of deciding the treatments for which a health plan will pay. Cognizant of consumer concerns over the power inherent in the position, states are seeking to inject more accountability into the decision-making process. Lawmakers have begun to grapple with whether medical directors should be required to hold a medical license from the state in which they work and, by extension, whether they should be under the jurisdiction of the state medical board.

Forecasting↗

Finance issue brief: insurer liability: year end report-2002.

When a health plan denies payment for a procedure on grounds that it is not medically necessary or when it refuses a physician-ordered referral to a specialist, has it crossed the line from making an insurance judgment to practicing medicine? If the patient suffers harm as a result of the decision, is the plan liable for medical malpractice? Those were questions 35 states considered in 1999, and at least 32 states are grappling with this year as they seek to respond to physician and patient pressure to curb the power of the managed care industry. Traditionally, health insurers have been protected by state laws banning "the corporate practice of medicine," which means the patient's only recourse is to sue under a "vicarious liability" theory. Now, however, lawmakers are debating legislation to extend the scope of malpractice liability beyond individual practitioners to insurance carriers and plans themselves.

Employee Retirement Income Security Act↗

Finance issue brief: medical necessity: year end report-2002.

The information in this issue brief is based on a 50--state survey and a recent literature review. The Health Policy Tracking Service recognizes the complexity of this issue and discourages the use of this document as a sole resource on the issue.

Eligibility Determination↗

Finance issue brief: point of service: year end report-2002.

A point-of-service (POS) option is a type of plan offered by managed care organizations (MCOs), including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), that allows people who are willing to pay higher out-of-pocket costs to see out-of-plan providers. Mandating a point-of-service option essentially eliminates the use of closed-panel HMOs. This issue brief addresses only bills that mandate managed care plans to offer a point-of-service option.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗