Cigna to Deny Professional Component for CP Services?

[Johnny Sunshine]

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This was news to me. Not terribly surprising, but yet another stumble in the ever greater slope down.

CAP: Cigna Should Abandon Plan to Deny Payment for Clinical Pathology Services

Unfortunately, even when the CAP and similar groups do attempt to fight such issues, they often simply can't do much. The profession of pathology seems to have very little leverage.

 

[stickyshift]

This was news to me. Not terribly surprising, but yet another stumble in the ever greater slope down.

CAP: Cigna Should Abandon Plan to Deny Payment for Clinical Pathology Services

Unfortunately, even when the CAP and similar groups do attempt to fight such issues, they often simply can't do much. The profession of pathology seems to have very little leverage.

We got the letter from Cigna. Some groups are going to fight it, citing clauses in their contracts that do not permit such unilateral decisions. On the other hand, Cigna could just cancel the entire contract . . . unilaterally.

 

[Silent Cool]

You know what would solve this problem?

Allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines. The absence of true competition in health care insurance is the root of most problems for providers and patients.

Johnny S,

You seem like one of the level-headed posters on SDN.
Is the Path market really *that* bad?
Likewise, in what medical fields do you see a bright spot?

thanx
-sc

 

[pathololology]

You know what would solve this problem?

Allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines. The absence of true competition in health care insurance is the root of most problems for providers and patients.

Johnny S,

You seem like one of the level-headed posters on SDN.
Is the Path market really *that* bad?
Likewise, in what medical fields do you see a bright spot?

thanx
-sc

It's ONLY going to be the fields where you can do cosmetics or procedures that people are willing to pay out of pocket for. . . . like plastics and dermatology. Those 2 are really the only ones that will be completely in the clear in the medical field b/c you don't go through insurance companies. Any clinical subspecialty or even primary care is also decent. If you are the best internist, dermatologist, ENT, family practice doc, best fill in the blank in your city you can simply state that you don't take insurance period . . . and then you can charge patients a reasonable price and they will pay it if you are competent and charge a reasonable out of pocket price.

 

[2121115]

It's ONLY going to be the fields where you can do cosmetics or procedures that people are willing to pay out of pocket for. . . . like plastics and dermatology. Those 2 are really the only ones that will be completely in the clear in the medical field b/c you don't go through insurance companies. Any clinical subspecialty or even primary care is also decent. If you are the best internist, dermatologist, ENT, family practice doc, best fill in the blank in your city you can simply state that you don't take insurance period . . . and then you can charge patients a reasonable price and they will pay it if you are competent and charge a reasonable out of pocket price.

Actually, insurance companies are what keep our profession afloat. Doctor's would get paid like teachers and auto mechanics if there were no insurance companies.

 

[pathololology]

Actually, insurance companies are what keep our profession afloat. Doctor's would get paid like teachers and auto mechanics if there were no insurance companies.

Thats funny. I know some private practice dermatologists who flat out don't accept insurance and they are doing very well. I also know some plastic surgeons who do breast enhancement surgery and it's straight up cash on the barrelhead, no insurance companies involved. I haven't met too many plastic surgeons that are paid like teachers . . . .

 

[2121115]

Thats funny. I know some private practice dermatologists who flat out don't accept insurance and they are doing very well. I also know some plastic surgeons who do breast enhancement surgery and it's straight up cash on the barrelhead, no insurance companies involved. I haven't met too many plastic surgeons that are paid like teachers . . . .

You confuse dermatologists and plastic surgeons with pathologists. Do this experiment: As a pathologist, quit taking private insurance and medicare. Then try to make your mortgage payment.

 

[pathololology]

You confuse dermatologists and plastic surgeons with pathologists. Do this experiment: As a pathologist, quit taking private insurance and medicare. Then try to make your mortgage payment.

That was my point. I was replying to Silent cool who was asking what fields to go into in medicine. I am not confusing anything. You didn't read what I was replying to. I firmly realize you can't do this in pathology. Do this experiment: read the post by Silent cool in which in bold he asks: in what medical fields do you see a bright spot? Then try typing a response.

 

[Johnny Sunshine]

Is the Path market really *that* bad?
Likewise, in what medical fields do you see a bright spot?

I guess it depends on what your definition of "bad" is. Most people seem to be saying it's not that bad because you'll eventually get a job. But it if takes you 3 fellowships before you can get a job, and the only job you can get is in some far-off corner of the country you would have never considered living in before, then I think that's a pretty bad sign.

I don't know enough about any other fields to comment on whether they are doing all that much better. But what seems certain is, at the very least, primary care docs rarely have to look outside their state of #1 preference.