A new online resource from the American Medical Association is designed to help physicians who are seeking alternatives to one-sided contracts offered by some managed care organizations.
The AMA has released the National Managed Care Contract and database to help physicians analyze and negotiate contracts with insurers.
"The concentrated market power of large health insurers gives them an unprecedented advantage in dictating key aspects of healthcare to physicians," said AMA President J. James Rohack, MD.
According to the AMA, the NMCC is the first comprehensive managed care contracting resource geared to the needs of physicians. It was developed to create model contract language that complies with the managed care laws of all 50 states and the District of Columbia and covers the broad range of physician concerns with managed care contracts.
The NMCC database is designed to give physicians access to updated statutes and regulations. It covers the managed care contract and contracting process, as well as the business relationship between physicians and managed care organizations after an agreement has been signed.
According to the AMA, the NMCC and its database can be used to:
- Provide alternative language to support contract negotiations with managed care organizations;
- Ensure managed care contracts and managed care organizations comply with applicable state legal requirements;
- Clarify key contract issues and manage ongoing relationships with managed care organizations;
- Assist with legislative, regulatory and legal efforts to reform unfair managed care business practices; and
- Monitor emerging state and federal legislative and regulatory trends.