The article “An Open Letter to All the Health Plans That Keep Sending Me Letters,” by Linda Lundeen, MD [The Last Word, March/April 2010], is awesome!

I've had repeated discussions with my partners on this very topic. It irks me to see insurance companies spend money to mine their databases and then create more work for me, which my malpractice carrier says I am responsible for investigating, analyzing, responding to and documenting, all without any compensation for the extra work.

I feel “oh, so grateful” for their thoughtfulness in generating this unfunded mandate for me!

Right on, Dr. Lundeen! I agree with your point of view 110 percent!