California heats up: will a jury decide the future of medicine? - Managed Care on Trial

Physician Executive, Sept-Oct, 2000 by Earl R. Washburn

Schaeffer was quoted as saying any doctors or hospitals that don't like doing business with WellPoint should drop out of the Blue Cross network. The plan's market penetration makes this a losing proposition for most providers, and Schaeffer knows it. Nevertheless, WellPoint officials admit they must improve provider relations, but this does not mean moving away from the business plan that has made this MCO one of the few financial successes in the state.

Earl P. Washburn, MD

Earl (Trey) R. Washburn, MD, FAAP, is an Administrative Physician at El Dorado Pediatric Medical Group, Inc., in Placervile, California. He can be reached by calling 530/626-1144 or via email at edpmg@inforum.net.