BY JOHN HOPKINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield said Tuesday it will spearhead creation of a task force to address issues of cultural diversity in managed health care networks.
The task force concept comes after the Cincinnati Medical Association voiced concerns last week with Anthem's decision to drop two black surgeons -- the only two black orthopedists in the Cincinnati area -- from its most popular health plans. Black doctors argue, in part, that managed care business preferences to work with large physician groups tend to hurt black doctors.
The concerns prompted Cincinnati Vice Mayor Minette Cooper to schedule a public hearing at 7 p.m. today at City Hall to discuss the issue. Ms. Cooper, chairwoman of council's Health, Social & Children Services Committee, termed the issue very serious and said it justifies further public inquiry.
The cultural diversity task force has the support of State Sen. Janet Howard, who has already met with Anthem representatives. The task force will be composed of a broad segment of the community.
"I feel that this is the right next step in getting the entire community -- medical, insurers, business and the public -- focused on finding a new solution for this issue," Mrs. Howard said.
The task force will be asked to develop a method of capturing demographic information that will permit cultural diversity to be considered in developing networks in addition to issues of physician supply and location, health care quality and cost.
Diversity in managed care provider networks "clearly needs to be addressed," said Paul Beckman, president-chief executive officer of Paragon Health System, which manages Anthem's managed care networks in the Cincinnati area. But physicians are not asked to divulge their race, ethnic background or religion in applications used to credential doctors for health care networks.
"To do so could have been interpreted as discriminatory, and it has not been considered relevant criteria for participation in a health care network," said Mr. Beckman.
Anthem representatives are expected to attend today's meeting. Invitations were also extended to state leaders.
"This is an issue that health care plans throughout the nation are beginning to deal with as they seek ways to meet the needs and desires of their members," Mr. Beckman said.
