Both figures are triple what was given to the Dept. of Corporations' managed care unit. Despite the torrent of new HMO restrictions, Zingale doen't plan to go on a crusade against HMOs. A new patient's advocate office will work closely with him. He will ask a physician panel to find ways to reduce medical errors. And he will establish standing advisory committees on managed care, clinical medicine and financial solvency standards.
Work has to begin immediately.
By the end of the year, Zingale must have the independent review system in place, implement new internal grievance standards for HMOs, issue new HMO report cards and enact financial solvency standards for doctor organizations. Dealing with troubled groups Doctors are closely watching the progress of the solvency standards because they could affect the future of independent practice associations and other arrangements they use to contract with HMOs. The Legislature ordered the new system last fall, and draft regulations compiled by the old department were handed over to the new one. It will apply to all groups that accept any kind of insurance risk beyond their own capitation payment and will be administered through the HMOs themselves rather than directly by the department. Under the draft, HMOs would regularly monitor groups and hand over solvency information to the department, which would use it to rate the groups on a scale of one to three.