Earlier this month we learned the state of North Carolina will be terminating their state health plan’s contract with Blue Cross and will instead adopt a Reference Based Pricing plan (Another State Adopts Reference Based Pricing Strategies). Now we learn Blue Cross of N. Carolina will be introducing a new, no network health plan, which is of course, Reference Based Pricing. Is this a case of “If you can’t beat them, join them?”
“It is normal comprehensive insurance, with a high deductible, and the main difference being that reimbursement is based on a ‘reference pricing’ approach similar to what state Treasurer (Dale) Folwell has recently proposed for the state employee plan…………….”