Practice Management Alert

Plus, Anthem introduces price conscious plan.

As part of a continued push by payers and consumers to increase consumer data and payer transparency, Blue Cross and Blue Shield is teaming up with Zagat dining guide to provide doctor rankings for its members.

Problem: The potential issue with this pairing is that the physician ratings will not be based on medical factors. Instead, Zagat will collect and compile survey information about physicians from Blue Cross members on four areas: trust, communication, availability, and office environment. There also will be a comments section for members to add additional information.

Expansion plans: Zagat teamed up with WellPoint (which also runs Blue Cross plans in 14 states) in the fall of 2007 to rate doctors as well. This is really just an expansion of the same program.