University of Minnesota Physicians group was recently reclassified from "physician office services" to "outpatient hospitals," increasing out-of-pocket costs for some Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield members as their medical billing switches from a co-pay to a deductible plus coinsurance, according to a Pioneer Press report.
The physician group sent a letter to 28,000 patients last month, notifying them that the on-campus clinics at the university were switching to a different insurance category. The change has prompted anger and confusion from patients who must now pay 30 percent of their medical bills plus deductible rather than a $20 co-pay.
PreferredOne customers underwent the same Aug. 1 change in their relationship with UMP, and the physician group will send out another 15,000 letters to Medica customers to warn them of a Jan. 1, 2012, change, according to the report. UMP has added staff to its customer service line to handle patient calls related to the change.
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The physician group sent a letter to 28,000 patients last month, notifying them that the on-campus clinics at the university were switching to a different insurance category. The change has prompted anger and confusion from patients who must now pay 30 percent of their medical bills plus deductible rather than a $20 co-pay.
PreferredOne customers underwent the same Aug. 1 change in their relationship with UMP, and the physician group will send out another 15,000 letters to Medica customers to warn them of a Jan. 1, 2012, change, according to the report. UMP has added staff to its customer service line to handle patient calls related to the change.
Related Articles on Billing, Coding and Collections:
Healthcare Speaker Criticizes American Medical Association's "Monopoly" on CPT Codes
Republican Lawmakers Tell Arkansas Insurance Exchange Funding
Rising Healthcare Costs to Become Biggest Challenge for State Budgets