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The Physicians
Cooperative of Texas (PCTexas) announced today that Texas Insurance
Commissioner Mike Geeslin has approved PCTexas for certification as a
workers’ compensation health care network. PCTexas is currently
certified in Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio, and is
expanding to cover the entire state of Texas.
PCTexas
is unlike other health care networks that have been certified to
offer workers’ compensation coverage under reforms the Texas
Legislature enacted in 2005. PCTexas is a physician-sponsored
approach to managed care that seeks to provide high quality,
appropriate medical services that are easily accessible, helping
injured workers recover and return to work more quickly, saving costs
for all involved. Because it is physician-sponsored PCTexas has been
more successful than other networks in attracting highly qualified
specialists, which will provide greater access to care and choice of
physicians for injured workers.
Dr.
Stephen Norwood, an orthopedic surgeon and co-founder for PCTexas,
said “The current and historical adversarial relationship
between managed care networks, employers and payers has interfered
with the provider-patient relationship. Especially because of Texas’
physician shortage, these delivery systems must change and promote
high quality medical care and improved clinical outcomes. Our vision
is for the PCTexas physician-sponsored model to help both payors and
employers understand why they need high-quality providers. We want to
deliver what is required to keep the best and brightest providing
those healthcare services for themselves and their employees”
Injured
workers in Texas today face a serious crisis finding a specialist,
usually an orthopedic surgeon, who is willing to accept a workers’
compensation case. Much of this stems from the hassle factors
associated with the old failed system. Injured police officers and
firefighters in some parts of the state have had the worst
experience.
PCTexas
providers have a more involved interest in the proven best ways to
treat injured workers. They work in partnership with PCTexas to
reduce unnecessary costs associated with treating work injuries and
improve clinical outcomes. PCTexas has selected the Official
Disability Guidelines “ODG” treatment guidelines to help
its providers adopt more standardized treatment plans. PCTexas is
committed to developing the best proven tools to improve quality and
to meet the needs of our providers, patients and employers.
“We
created the physician-sponsored model based on the leading managed
care delivery systems in the US,” said Creg Parks, PCTexas
Chief Executive Officer. “Studies indicate that this model is
successful because the networks focus primarily on the delivery of
high quality healthcare services, maintaining a deep respect for the
physicians and providers who provide these services.”
If you are interested in more information
about PCTexas or the latest update on the Texas workers’
compensation reforms and how the physician-sponsored network option
may benefit you, please visit
www.pctexas.org
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