Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 23

FOST-G AZETTE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1969 ft Blue Shield Gets OK To Double Fees Optional Program Would Pay Full Kills for Doctors HARRISBURG, Oct. 29 (AP) Insurance Commissioner George F. Reed today approved a sweeping new prevailing fee program for Pcnnr sylvania's 5.3 million Blue Shield subscribers, but in some cases it would mean doubling present fees. The program, which is optional with the subscriber, would become effective for most next Jan. 1 and would cover all medical and surgical bills.

In many cases at present, only a portion of the doctor's bill is paid by Blue Shield. The patient has to pay any additional out of his own pocket. Would Double Costs The new program would cost more than 100 per cent more in some cases. It is divided into three parts and would affect 5,383,435 Blue Shield subscribers and 17,824 participating doctors. It is described as the largest such plan in the nation.

At present, the Blue Shield Is on a statewide fixed fee basis. Under the prevailing fee program the payments would be based on a regional basis divided among the Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre and Allentown areas. As an example, the statewide fixed fee plan in the non-group and group conver-. sion category now costs $1.93 -per month for a single person, $4.42 for two persons and $6.11 forafmaiiy. Increases for City In Pittsburgh, for Instance, this would be increased, to $3.70, $7.40 and $11.10 respective increases of 91 per cent, 67 per cent and 81 per cent.

The rates are lower In all other areas except Philadelphia where similar coverage would cost $4.30, $8.60 and or increases of more "than 100 per cent for single family subscribers. Reed said that a pilot study of the new program was developed and implemented with a group of about 3,000 persons in the Pottstown area. "(ir ft Sheers of the night Sleep softly into the night in the. sheer elegance of these mini ensembles. What you lose in length is made up for in beauty.

Heavenly layers of nylon trimmed in pure femininity send you floating; off to dreamland. i A. Hollywood Vassarette's lace yoke gown 1 and coat ensemble. Coat with long; full leeves and lace trimmed cuffs. Gardenia P.

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Representative Rudy Dieckert will be in our Downtown store Today iOO to 8 :00 Mt. ebnoij -Friday. 11:00 to Monroeville Saturday 11 :00 to 7:00 51) 3 v.l i1 Hi If I i WK hwn nL 4 'i 4 r1 -1 1 i iW J' 3 i I if Hi vi if i mm I jsmv ij? ill in i I' St lt- The prevailing fee program Is divided into three separate plans called the 100 agree ment, the 80-20 agreement and the 80 agreement. Would Pay Higher Rates Those in the 100 agreement category would pay higher rates for both small group and non-group subscribers. Blue Shield would pay all of their doctor bills.

The 80-20 agreement would provide for lower subscriber payments since the subscriber would have to pay 20 per cent of the prevailing fee. The 80 agreement is limited to single persons with an in. come of $2,500 per year or a family with an income of $4,500 a year. In this case, Blue Shield would pay 80 per cent of the prevailing fee and the doctor would write off the other 20 per cent. The 80-20 and 80 groups would pav the same fees.

Reed defined a prevailing fee as one being "determined upon the basis of the three criteria of usual, customary and reasonable fees. It's Hard to Beat U.S. Draft Rolls FT. LEWIS, Wash. TAP) Army Pvt.

Hiep B. Ngo was drafted in Vietnam and gent to the United States. Ngo, 25, had been brought to this country 10 years ago by an American who befriended him in Vietnam. He returned to Vietnam after from high school and was working in the American Post Exchange System when he got his induction notice. He receiving aircraft maintenance training here.

Fascinating recipes and helpful menu suggestions by Zora Unkovich today in the women's section. (Advertisement) Hcloise's Uinls Arc Time Savers For Housewives Thousands of women have found a helpful friend in x.S. A fit i jCJ i i 'I i' is fl i 4S It i Hit lli "1 Jit mum Holoise. Why don you look I ner up. i ou Tina ner coi' umn regularly in The Pittsburgh Press To Call 263-1121.