In the November 6th issue of the Wall Street Journal, an article deep in the bowels of the newspaper caught my attention. “Humana Brings Doctors In-House” revealed Humana’s move into providing not health insurance…but direct patient care. Indeed, Humana is expected to bring over 2600 physicians under its umbrella. This hybrid model is clearly on the minds of insurers, who’s job is to arbitrage the economic opportunity between what insurance payors are willing to pay and what healthcare providers are willing to accept as reimbursement. What better way to insure that costs are controlled than to employ their largest cost; the physicians that provide the care to their insureds.
Forewarned is forearmed!
