INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Health insurer WellPoint Inc. plans to improve primary care doctor payments and start reimbursing for care management it doesn't cover as a way boost treatment and save money.
The Indianapolis company said Friday it will increase the fees it pays to doctor practices, and it will start paying for services like preparing care plans for patients with complex medical problems. It also will offer doctors an opportunity to share in some savings when better patient care leads to a reduction in costs.
WellPoint officials say they aim to give doctors a chance to do more for patients outside of episodic care, or just treating a person when they become sick. That may mean, for example, working with an overweight person who has diabetes to develop an exercise plan and then making sure the person stays on it.
Under the concept, doctors will be able to spend more time with patients, listening to them and understanding their concerns, said Jill Hummel, WellPoint's vice president of payment innovation.
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