Blues, AMA Offer Guide for Peace to Docs, HMOs

MANAGED CARE July 2001. ©MediMedia USA

Agreeing that antagonism gets you nowhere, the AMA and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association have developed guidelines for improving relations between physicians and health plans. The AMA will distribute the recommendations to its members, while BCBSA will work with chief medical officers of its 45 plans to put them into practice.

The document makes 10 sets of recommendations that span a range of traditional tensions, including credentialing, deselection, and doctor participation in plans' clinical decision making. Physicians are also encouraged to discuss all treatment options with patients.