The American Medical Association (AMA) has released a new National Managed Care Contract (NMCC) and database for physicians. The new tools can be used by physicians to analyse and negotiate contracts with insurers and help provide relief from unfair corporate business practices. According to AMA, physicians seeking a reasonable alternative to the one-sided contracts offered by some managed care organisations can now rely on this new online resource.
The NMCC is claimed to be the first comprehensive managed care contracting resource geared specifically to the needs of physicians. It seeks to put forth a model contract language that complies with the managed care laws of all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. The aim is to comprehensively cover the broad range of physician concerns with managed care contracts. The resource provides physicians with a frame of reference to compare and evaluate any prospective managed care contract.
The searchable database associated with the NMCC seeks to provide physicians with easy access to updated statutes and regulations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It covers the managed care contracting process, the managed care contract itself and the business relationship between physicians and managed care organisations after an agreement has been signed.
The NMCC and its database can be used by physicians and their advocates to provide alternative language to support contract negotiations with managed care organisations. Physicians can also expect to ensure that managed care contracts and managed care organisations comply with applicable state legal requirements, and clarify key contract issues with these organisations. Additionally, the resources are projected to assist with legislative, regulatory and legal efforts to reform unfair managed care business practices, and monitor emerging state and federal legislative and regulatory trends.
AMA members can access the NMCC and database at www.ama-assn.org/go/nationalcontract.
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