Lawmaker blasts PacifiCare over contract dispute

Wednesday, May 19th 2004, 5:39 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- An Oklahoma lawmaker says a health insurance company's decision not to renew its contract with an Oklahoma City clinic will leave 16,000 people without medical care.

Representative Opio Toure says PacifiCare's decision means patients will not be able to continue getting care from doctors who know their medical history.

Customer service manager for PacifiCare says the decision was based on a contract dispute with the Oklahoma City Clinic over PacifiCare's shift to fee-for-service contracts.

The company says the clinic has insisted on a contract that allows physicians to receive a set amount annually for each patient regardless of how often the patient is seen or provided.

Jordan says not all patients will have to switch physicians and will have more access to doctors and specialists.