Keep insurers honest

A law that the Texas Medical Association worked hard to pass in 2009 requires insurers' physician-ranking programs to use nationally recognized standards and guidelines and requires insurance plans to disclose those measurements to physicians before the evaluation period. It also gives physicians the right to dispute their rankings before insurers publish or advertise them to the public. TMA officials say most of the major plans suspended their ranking programs after the law was passed. But some of those insurance companies are preparing to roll out updated versions of their ranking programs early next year. TMA officials say physicians need to be aware of their rights and how to appeal any adverse rankings under the law.