LIBN: Empire creates physician panel

Empire creates physician panel

by Claude Solnik
Published: November 2, 2010

In a move designed to open a better dialogue between the state’s largest insurer and healthcare providers, Empire BlueCross BlueShield has created a physician advisory council.

Although other insurers have long used physician panels to help develop policies, Empire earlier this month held the first meeting of a panel designed to advise it on an ongoing basis.

The insurer, which covers more than 6 million members in New York State, in the past relied on panels set up around specific initiatives and administrative policy changes.

“What we found is we didn’t have this forum that met on a regular basis to get input from a consistent pool of physicians,” Jill Hummel, Empire’s vice president of provider engagement and contracting for Empire, told LIBN.

She said the group will meet at least quarterly and as needed to deal with particular issues, proposals or changes.

Hummel said the panel is comprised of physicians from across the state, including two Long Island doctors, an obstetrician/gynecologist and a nephrologist.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to represent my fellow physician colleagues, advocate for the patients we serve and partner more meaningfully with Empire,” said Dr. Simon E. Prince, a member of the panel, president of North Shore Nephrology in Manhasset and past president of the medical staff society at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset.

Prince, who said doctors volunteered to serve on the panel, said he thinks it should be good for “physicians, Empire and most importantly the patients we serve.”

Empire at the first meeting discussed how it does business, including setting reimbursement and administrative policies and creating quality initiatives.