BUPA's ophthalmology network

Five days after launching its MRI network, BUPA issued a press release to say that it will be bringing out another network to cover ophthalmology services at some time in 2006.

As with MRI, the stated intention is to select quality while simultaneously controlling cost. At this stage we do not know who will be in the network nor other details such as whether, like the MRI network, it will apply to all products immediately and without choice. BUPA has made it clear, however, that it will embrace surgeons and anaesthetists as well as hospitals and other providers. Having tackled one area of widely perceived overcharging, namely MRI scans, it is logical that BUPA would move on to ophthalmology as specialist fees accepted in the market for eye surgery are seen by many as very high when compared to other specialties.

It seems likely that, in setting up its new network, BUPA will attempt to deal through hospitals, leaving them to negotiate with the specialists to produce package prices covering all costs. It is a risky strategy as the most prestigious and, one assumes, the highest-quality surgeons may not be willing to reduce their fees.

Introducing a network for MRI scans is relatively uncontroversial as compared to this new venture. The MRI network applies only to out-patients and does not prevent GPs from referring to the specialist of their choice. The ophthalmology network has the potential to restrict choice in ways that many members may find unacceptably inconvenient. We must wait to see the results of BUPA's tendering process.

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