San Francisco health board renews Best Doctors for 2019 at $1.15 per member

The Health Service System Board voted unanimously to renew its Best Doctors second-opinion service for plan year 2019 at $1.15 per employee or retiree per month, Aon consultant Anne Thompson told the board.

Aon staff recapped the three‑year rate guarantee that began in 2017 and said Best Doctors offered a concession for 2019 that lowered the fee from $1.40 to $1.15 per member per month. Commissioners pressed staff on member uptake, legal liability for expert opinions and whether existing health plans already provide similar services.

Commissioner Breslin said he was troubled by contractual language discouraging direct communication between the member and the consulting physician, calling it a malpractice-avoidance protocol; the board’s medical participants and Director Yant explained Best Doctors provides an expert report members can take to their treating physician and that using a non‑plan specialist can create out‑of‑network issues for members.

Retiree representatives spoke in public comment in favor of keeping the benefit. Claire Zavonski, president of the retired employees’ group, described members who found Best Doctors helpful in reconciling differing opinions and in securing additional recommended tests. "When they used the Best Doctors service, they discovered that there was one more prevailing recommendation ... and the outcome was very positive," she said.

The board approved the renewal on a roll‑call vote and attached a condition requesting staff provide the clearer member outreach and the plan‑by‑plan clarification requested during the meeting so retirees understand what to submit for a review.