WellPoint patients can give critiques

WellPoint Inc., the second-largest U.S. health insurer and owner of Blue Cross of California, is offering patients the chance to critique doctors’ offices the way diners review restaurants.

Indianapolis-based WellPoint and New York-based Zagat Survey, the dining-guide publisher, created an online tool for WellPoint health plan members to rate physicians on trust, communication skills, availability and practice environment.

Members of some health plans in California, Connecticut and Ohio will be the first to participate, WellPoint said.

WellPoint and other insurers are providing more information to help patients in “consumerdirected health plans,” which feature lower premiums and higher out-of-pocket expenses. The company has 1.3 million such members nationwide.

Only health professionals who have contracted with WellPoint’s network are included in the ratings. Each online entry will display contact information, ratings on a 30-point scale for each of the four categories and the percentage of members who recommend the physician.