PPOs

San Diego Business Journal, Dec 26, 2005 by Andy Killion

PPOs **

Ranked by number of local subscribers as of June 30, 2005

                                                        Local
                                                     subscribers:
                                                        * 2005
Rank    Organization                                    * 2004
(last   Address                     Telephone         * % change
year)   Web site                    Fax                 (loss)

  1     Blue Shield of California   (415) 229-5108      76,069
 (5)    50 Beale St.,               (310) 568-4387      72,493
        San Francisco 94105                               5
        www.mylifepath.com

  2     CIGNA HealthCare            (619) 625-5600      22,255
 (6)    3636 Nobel Drive, #150,     (858) 625-5799      24,979
        San Diego 92122                                  (11)
        www.cigna.com

  3     PacifiCare                  (858) 658-8500      20,000
 (9)    4365 Executive Drive,       (858) 658-8890      12,275
        San Diego 92121                                   63
        www.pacificare.com

  4     HealthNet of California     (818) 676-6775      15,000
 (7)    21281 Burbank Blvd.,        (818) 676-6992      17,000
        Suite B3, Woodland Hills                         (12)
        91367
        www.healthnet.com

                                                       PPO
                                                    character-
                                                      istics

                                        Local
                                      full-time
Rank    Organization                  employees      General
(last   Address                         as of        medical/
year)   Web site                    June 30, 2005    surgical

  1     Blue Shield of California        19             *
 (5)    50 Beale St.,
        San Francisco 94105
        www.mylifepath.com

  2     CIGNA HealthCare                 na
 (6)    3636 Nobel Drive, #150,
        San Diego 92122
        www.cigna.com

  3     PacifiCare                       300            *
 (9)    4365 Executive Drive,
        San Diego 92121
        www.pacificare.com

  4     HealthNet of California          50             *
 (7)    21281 Burbank Blvd.,
        Suite B3, Woodland Hills
        91367
        www.healthnet.com

                                            PPO characteristics

Rank    Organization
(last   Address                       Workers'     Accredited    For
year)   Web site                    compensation       **       profit

  1     Blue Shield of California                      *
 (5)    50 Beale St.,
        San Francisco 94105
        www.mylifepath.com

  2     CIGNA HealthCare                                          *
 (6)    3636 Nobel Drive, #150,
        San Diego 92122
        www.cigna.com

  3     PacifiCare                                     *          *
 (9)    4365 Executive Drive,
        San Diego 92121
        www.pacificare.com

  4     HealthNet of California                                   *
 (7)    21281 Burbank Blvd.,
        Suite B3, Woodland Hills
        91367
        www.healthnet.com

                                      Number of
                                     contracting
                                     physicians:
                                    * Primary care
Rank    Organization                * Specialists     Number of
(last   Address                      * Ancillary     contracting
year)   Web site                      ([dagger])      hospitals

  1     Blue Shield of California       1,563            25
 (5)    50 Beale St.,                   4,075
        San Francisco 94105               na
        www.mylifepath.com

  2     CIGNA HealthCare                1,460            21
 (6)    3636 Nobel Drive, #150,         4,059
        San Diego 92122                 5,519
        www.cigna.com

  3     PacifiCare                      2,050            28
 (9)    4365 Executive Drive,           3,200
        San Diego 92121                   na
        www.pacificare.com

  4     HealthNet of California         1,100            23
 (7)    21281 Burbank Blvd.,            2,800
        Suite B3, Woodland Hills        1,200
        91367
        www.healthnet.com

Rank    Organization
(last   Address                      Local medical director
year)   Web site                    Local executive director

  1     Blue Shield of California          Eric Book
 (5)    50 Beale St.,                    Bruce Bodaken
        San Francisco 94105
        www.mylifepath.com

  2     CIGNA HealthCare                 Dr. James Wang
 (6)    3636 Nobel Drive, #150,            Bill Corba
        San Diego 92122
        www.cigna.com

  3     PacifiCare                       Dr. Paul Mills
 (9)    4365 Executive Drive,              James Frey
        San Diego 92121
        www.pacificare.com

  4     HealthNet of California         Gordon Yendcida
 (7)    21281 Burbank Blvd.,             Stephen Lynch
        Suite B3, Woodland Hills
        91367
        www.healthnet.com

Rank    Organization                                     Year
(last   Address                     Parent company    established
year)   Web site                     Headquarters       locally

  1     Blue Shield of California   Blue Shield of       1939
 (5)    50 Beale St.,                 California
        San Francisco 94105          San Francisco
        www.mylifepath.com

  2     CIGNA HealthCare              CIGNA Corp.        1991
 (6)    3636 Nobel Drive, #150,      Philadelphia
        San Diego 92122
        www.cigna.com

  3     PacifiCare                    PacifiCare         1978
 (9)    4365 Executive Drive,           Cypress
        San Diego 92121
        www.pacificare.com

  4     HealthNet of California     HealthNet, Inc.      1979
 (7)    21281 Burbank Blvd.,        Woodland Hills
        Suite B3, Woodland Hills
        91367
        www.healthnet.com

** PPO: A preferred provider organization is a health care program
that contracts with selected health care professionals. Members are
free to go to any physician but will receive a discounted rate if
they get treatment from providers in a specific network.

*** Among the organizations offering PPO accreditation are the
Utilization Review and Accreditation Commission, Department
of Corporations and American Association of Preferred Provider
Organizations.

([dagger]) Ancillary professionals may include, but are not limited
to, chiropractors, counselors, radiologists, etc.

wnd Would not disclose

na Not available

NA Not applicable

(NR) Not ranked

Notes: PPOs on last year's List that did not return surveys this
year are: CCN Network, No. 1 last year; Blue Cross of California,
No. 2 last year; Aetna US Healthcare, No. 3 last year; Pacific
Foundation for Medical Care, No. 4 last year; First Health Network,
No. 8 last year.

Source: The organizations.

It is not the intent of this List to endorse the participants nor
to imply an organization's size or numerical rank indicates its
quality.

Researched by Andy Killion

Originally published on Oct. 24, 2005