MGB plays chicken with United and Blue Cross on Primary Care

Mass General Brigham can’t find enough primary care appointments for its best customers. So why would it let health plans push it around on price? MGB told Medicare Advantage patients from United and Blue Cross to take a hike, at least when it comes to primary care. David Williams is quoted in the The Boston Globe (MGB leaving some Medicare Advantage primary care networks, affecting 19,000 patients)

David E. Williams, president of the Boston consulting firm Health Business Group, said MGB probably felt it could afford to lose nearly 19,000 Medicare Advantage patients because the health system is already struggling to satisfy the demand for primary care.

If the insurers objected to reimbursement rates sought by MGB, the health system likely felt it could tell them to take a walk.

“MGB is already turning away patients” for primary care, Williams said.