www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/21/lz1b21comp2 -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 6/21/2009
Last Visited: 6/22/2009
Dave Bellusci, senior vice president and chief actuary at the ratings bureau, confirmed that over the past several years, evaluation and cost-containment expenses have been growing more quickly than medical treatment costs.
Bellusci added that they are still relatively small pieces of the total medical bill, with cost-containment representing about 15 percent of recent price rises and evaluations about 8 percent.
"But since the majority of treatment is provided through medical networks established by employers or insurers, and virtually all fees are subject to a fee schedule, why is so much money going to cost control?
asked Todd McFarren, president of the association.
Bellusci said the evaluations and cost-containment measures are a "double protection" for insurers.