Skip Maine state header navigation
 |
| Home | Contact Us | Careers | Calendar |
|
Maine.gov
> PFR Home
> Insurance Regulation
> Hearing Decision Index
> Document 646 : INS 99-14 : Hearing Decision
THE STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL & FINANCIAL REGULATION BUREAU OF INSURANCE
NOW COMES Intervenor, Maine Osteopathic Association ("MOA"), through undersigned counsel for the Maine Medical Association, and submits this prefiled testimony of Boyd R. Buser, D.O., consistent with the terms of the Superintendent’s Procedural Order of November 4, 2000. Q: Please identify yourself and your place of employment. A: Boyd R. Buser, D.O., Interim Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine 04005. I currently serve as the President of the Maine Osteopathic Association, Secretary-Treasurer of the American Academy of Osteopathy, Secretary-Treasurer of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, and member of the Correct Coding Policy Committee of the American Medical Association. Q: Please provide a brief summary of your educational background and employment history. A: I reside in Kennebunkport, Maine. I received my D.O. degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa in 1981, and completed my internship at Cranston General Hospital in Cranston, Rhode Island. I became the Chairman of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in March 1986, and remained in that position until September, 1999, when I assumed my current position. Q: Please comment on the experience of osteopathic providers who have contracted with BCBSME, as well as the importance and benefits of maintaining a state-based, locally controlled, non-profit health plan. A: BCBSME has always had a strong commitment to both serving and requesting input from Maine Physicians. They have had an osteopathic physician on their Board of Directors for many years. The opportunity to dialog with the company is very important to osteopathic physicians, and has allowed us to communicate regarding the company’s policies relating to Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and other physician services. Q: What are some of the concerns that you have for osteopathic physicians that Anthem will attempt to require, or require osteopathic physicians to accept certain designated contract provisions if the providers want to contract with Anthem to provide services to Anthem BCBSME enrollees. A: A majority of D.O.’s currently contract with BCBSME, with a large proportion of D.O.’s providing care in Maine’s rural areas. With approximately 45% of the healthcare market in Maine controlled by BCBSME, it is of grave concern to osteopathic physicians that loss of local control of coverage policies may adversely affect osteopathic physicians’ ability to continue to provide services their patients have come to expect. Maine citizens want to have continued access to their regular doctor and the services their doctor provides. We are the first line of healthcare delivery to patients, and if the services aren’t covered, the physician may not be able to afford to provide those services, and ultimately the patient will suffer. We have had this experience with other local companies that have undergone takeover by a large national company. Q: Does this conclude your testimony? A: Yes, I welcome the opportunity to respond to questions the Superintendent and other parties may have regarding my testimony.
Dated: March 28, 2000 _____________________________ Boyd R. Buser, D.O.
Dated: March 28, 2000 ______________________________ Andrew MacLean Maine Medical Association 30 Association Drive Manchester, NH 04351 207-622-3374 Michel A. LaFond Sulloway & Hollis, P.L.L.C. Attorney for Maine Medical Association 9 Capitol Street, P.O. Box 1256 Concord, New Hampshire 03302-1256 603-224-2341 603-226-2405-fax mal@sulloway.com
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The undersigned hereby certifies that on March 28, 2000 a copy of the Prefiled Testimony of Boyd R. Buser, D.O. was served via United States mail, first class postage prepaid, on each of the persons listed below. Robert S. Frank, Esq. Michele M. Garvin, Esquire Harvey & Frank Ropes & Gray Two City center One International Place P.O. Box 126 Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624 Portland, Maine 04112 e-mail: Mgarvin@Ropesgray.com fax - 207-775-5639 (Central Maine Healthcare Corporation; e_mail: frank@harveyfrank.com Central Maine Partners Health Plan) (Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Maine) Judith Chamberlain, Esq. State of Maine Department of the Attorney General 6 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333_0006 e_mail: judy.chamberlain@state.me.us
(Bureau of Insurance) Bonnie Post William H. Laubenstein, Esq. Executive Director of the Maine Ambulatory State of Maine Care Coalition Department of the Attorney General P. O. Box 390 6 State House Station Manchester, Maine 04351 Augusta, Maine 04333_0006e-mail: bdpmacc@mint.net e_mail: bill.laubenstein@state.me.us (Sacopee Valley Health center, Regional (Office of the Attorney General) Medical center at Lubec, Eastport Health Care, Inc., and the Maine Ambulatory Care Coalition) John Dieffenbacher-Krall Executive Director mailto:gabrodek@duanemorris.comMaine People’s Alliance 192 State Street Portland, Maine 04101 e-mail: MPA@gwi.net (Maine People’s Alliance)
Joseph P. Ditre, Esq. Gordon H. Smith, Esquire Consumer Health Law Program Maine Medical Association One Weston Court, Level One 30 Association Drive P.O. Box 2490 P. O. Box 190 e_mail: jditre@mainecahc.org Manchester, Maine 04351 (Consumers for Affordable Health Care e-mail: gsmith@ctel.net Foundation/Coalition) (Thomas D. Hayward, M.D., Maroulla S. Gleaton, M.D. and the Donald E. Quigley, Esquire Maine Medical Association) General Counsel 465 Congress Street, Suite 600 mailto:Mgarvin@Ropesgray.commailto:Rgoldma1@maine.rr.commailto:bdpmacc@mint.netmailto:MPA@gwi.netmailto:gsmith@ctel.netKellie P. Miller, M.S. Portland Maine 04101_3537 Executive Director e_mail: quigld@mail.mmc.org Maine Osteopathic Association (Maine Medical center) 693 Western Avenue Manchester, Maine 04351 Sandra L. Parker, Esq. e-mail: meosteo@mint.net Attorney for MHA, Inc. (Maine Osteopathic Association) 150 Capitol Street Augusta, Maine 04330 Edward Miller e_mail: sparker@themha.org Executive Director (MHA, Inc.) American Lung Association of Maine 122 State Street James B. Zimpritch, Esquire Augusta, Maine 04330 Jeffrey M. White, Esquire e-mail: emiller@mainlung.org Catherine R. Connors, Esquire Pierce Atwood mailto:emiller@mainlung.org
One Monument Squaremailto:meosteo@mint.netmailto:emiller@mainelung.orgPortland, Maine 04101 (207) 791_1100 (Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.)
Gordon H. Smith Attorney for Maine Medical Association
Last Updated: August 22, 2012 |
| Copyright © 2006 All rights reserved. |