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Georgia doctors sue for access to United's contracts with state plan

By Amy Lynn Sorrel Appeals have been filed asking the state Supreme Court to determine whether some documents should be treated as public records or exempted as trade secrets. When the South Georgia Physicians Assn. LLC noticed that the health insurer administering Georgia's state employee health benefits plan was requiring different contract terms for rural doctors than for those in urban areas, the group got suspicious. The Georgia Dept. of Community Health in 2005 awarded United Healthcare a five-year, $55 million contract to service the state-funded plan. It took effect Jan. 1, 2006. While the insurer was recruiting doctors to participate in the plan, John Crew, a consultant who assists practices in health plan contract negotiations, saw as many as six different versions with varying fee schedules offering lower reimbursement to rural doctors, he said. At one point, United also put all-products clauses in some contracts, added Crew, who works with South Georgia Physicians. The independent practice association has about 280 physician members practicing in about 30 counties in predominantly rural southern Georgia.

Full post as published by The Trade Secrets Vault on August 05, 2008 (boomark / email).