Excellus's Radiology Management Program

Yesterday, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of Rochester kicked off a new radiology management program. In a nutshell, it requires doctors to fill out paperwork, fax it out-of-state, and then await approval from CareCore International before patients can access these services (unless they are in the emergency room). The point of this program is to minimize the hefty expenses that come with radiology services. The Monroe County Medical Society has concerns about this program and they've posted a letter to Excellus patients on their website, while many doctors are distributing that letter on their own.

To me, this seems like another reason not to fear a national healthcare system. Our per-capita spending is well above nations with superior health indicators, while we're seeing measures like this one implemented across the country anyway. But, who knows, maybe we'll actually see a rate increase that's not greater than inflation thanks to this program. Time will tell, although I wouldn't hold my breath.

Update: The Democrat & Chronicle reported on early complaints tied to this program (11/1/2007). Click here for the article.