Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield

Newark, NJ: In 2002, a group of doctors filed a class action lawsuit against the insurer for allegedly delaying or withholding payments. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield agreed to make significant business practice improvements to increase transparency in its interactions with physicians. Under the terms of the class action settlement, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield will make fee schedules for common procedures available to participating physicians on CD-ROM or electronically; disclose significant changes in its automated claims processing system; provide 90 days notice to participating physicians of material changes to contracts, policies and procedures; allow primary care physicians to close their practices to new patients covered by Horizon BCBSNJ; and not reduce fees to participating physicians more than once a year. (Oct-18-06) [BUSINESS INSURANCE: HORIZON BLUE]