Health costs are the reason the nation’s largest automaker blamed losing $3 billion in the first nine months of this year. A deal that the United Auto Workers make on health coverage said they would cut GM’s expenses by $3 billion annually before taxes .The health cost cut have physicians bracing for the impact as union workers and retirees are asked to pay more for health care , doctors wonder if patients will delay visits, or fees will drop.
When automakers are forced to pay more for health care they take other measures to save from going to the doctors and delay getting medical treatment unless it’s absolutely necessary. GM has announced no plans to reduce reimbursement payment to the physicians from GM affiliated health plans.
A lawsuit is pending against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan filed by Michigan State Medical Society and the Michigan Osteopathic Assn with the support of AAA, for lowering Physicians fees without their consent, then threatening to kick out physician that did not accept them.
If the new GM-UAW deal and how it is constructed results in reduced in further reductions of physicians fee’s, the society will not take it lying down .Alan Mindin, MD president of the Michigan Society said.
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