Aetna, still stinging from a class-action lawsuit that charged the insurer with systematically reducing payments to physicians and overriding their treatment decisions, this week unveiled its “Guiding Principles for Physician Relations,” in which the company says it formally defines its “continued commitment to building the best possible relationships with the medical community…”
The principles include commitments such as:
- Aetna will work to make it easier for physicians to do business with us.
- Aetna will continue to make our business processes as transparent as possible.
Considering the company had to pony up $170 million under a 2003 settlement agreement on behalf of 700,000 physicians, it’s no surprise the insurer is continuing to massage its physician relations. Aetna even alludes to the settlements in its explanation:
“All of the changes Aetna made as part of the settlement agreement are embedded in the company’s business model and are consistent with the way the company wants to continue working with physicians. The Principles reinforce those changes…”
Aetna writes about $50 million in premiums in Kansas.
From the For What It’s Worth Dept.: Mayflower Transit, the big moving company, reports today that it moved a few more people into Kansas over the last 12 months than out. That may reflect the big hiring of professionals such as engineers going on in Wichita — or it may be nothing more than a statistical quirk. (The fact that Nebraska had almost twice as many move-outs as move-ins, the worst in the nation, makes me suspicious)
Still, it’s nice to think that Kansas is finally gaining population from outside after decades of losing out. And the numbers do reflect actual trends: the biggest losers tend to be northeastern and Great Lakes states. The biggest gainers tend to be southern and western states.
Mayflower destinations Jan-April 2008
Mayflower destinations May-Dec. 2007
Ran into former Eagle publisher Lou Heldman at lunch at a packed Caffe Moderne today. He thanked me for the parking tip (see yesterday’s “Psst, over here”) but said he was a bit confused about exactly where to go in the alley.
Actually, I’m the one who is confused — and directionally challenged. The alley is just to the left — or west — of the Marriott as you face it. Lou figured that’s what I meant and almost parked there but thankfully kept driving and left the space open for me.
While chatting, Lou had to pause for a minute to check his phone, thinking it might be his lunch appointment. Turns out, it was just our Midday Business Report coming in.
Great to see that he’s keeping up with us. Now send those tips, Lou!
You get the feeling that the financial investigation concerning European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EADS) is going to turn into a Boeing-Darleen Druyun type scandal. The latest chapter is unfolding in Paris, where former EADS CEO Noel Forgeard is being held for questioning by financial authorities. Forgeard is one of 17 former EADS or Airbus executives being investigated for dumping stock just before the company announced further delays in the A380 in 2006. After the announcement, EADS shares fell 26 percent.
Forgeard is big-name guy in Europe. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 and served as industrial adviser to the French prime minister for more than a decade.
Hear the one about the guy who spent $19 on a coffee drink? That guy is me.
On my way into work this morning, I stopped by Daily Grind, a new coffee house at Sutton Place. The coffee was good. The parking was not.
There are no very few spots if you just want to drop in for a quick coffee to go, other than a number of unused spots in front of it on Market that are marked for police vehicles only. That’s where I parked. When I left the store after no more than five minutes, a kind lady was printing a $15 ticket for me.
Now, should I have parked there? No. I’m a law-breaker and ready to pay for my crime. But the city is doing itself no favors in its efforts to revitalize downtown by having inadequate parking in front of a retailer. If a business is going to put itself out there with a downtown location, it needs spots for its customers to park.
You might have noticed that Bank of the West private banker Kelly Uran’s bedside table reading selection in today’s Business Today includes two books on running. There’s good reason. Uran is preparing to run the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco this fall. That’s 26.2 miles, by the way, of running up and down some serious hills, folks. It’s also on Runner’s World magazine’s list of must-do marathons in 2008. So let’s throw a little good karma Uran’s way by wishing her the best of luck.
Is anyone out there? Hello … hello … hello …
Let me welcome all you newbies who might be coming across Business Casual for the first time this morning. Let me also welcome you to Coffee Break, your morning dose of links from around the globe that might be of interest to Biz Caz readers. We’ll be posting most weekdays by 10:15 or so. Let this be your place to visit when you need a little respite from work.
We’d like this to be interactive as well. If you see some stories you like, send me the links at dloving@wichitaeagle.com.
And away we go:
- Everything it takes to produce and deliver food is going up, but Wal-Mart is using the muscle that comes with being the world’s largest retailer to pressure vendors to keep those costs out of the food chain, according to this Fortune article.
- If you’re heading off to southern California, you’ll have to check out the new Ferris wheel on the Santa Monica Pier. It’s made by Wichita’s Chance Morgan.
- For those of you interested in casino news these days,
it looks like the Donald is going to have his name on one fewer casino in Atlantic City. The Trump Marina is being sold for $316 million. That will leave Phil Ruffin’s buddy with two in AC.
That’s today’s brief rundown. Be sure to tell us what you think in the comments section.
I spent a few minutes Wednesday gazing into the downtown arena, and the progress that’s been made in six months is amazing.
If you look past the exterior pillars, you can see the seating areas taking shape as the Dondlinger & Sons crew continues work with a little less than two years to go. The progress will become less noticeable as work shifts inside in a year or so, but there’s already enough work done to see the completed Intrust Bank Arena in your mind’s eye.
Ron Holt, Sedgwick County’s point man on the arena, said the project’s timeline and financials are both on schedule, with the latter being more amazing than the former. Prices are on the rise, from steel to concrete and asphalt, and that’s “worry number one,” Holt said.
