United Healthcare recently announced it would begin implementation of its Premium Designation program in California in the coming months. Under the program, physicians will be ranked on both national and specialty-specific measures for quality and various cost-efficiency benchmarks.

United expects to fully implement the program by the end of 2014. An introductory announcement was recently mailed to physicians advising of the program’s inception and directing physicians to the UnitedHealthcareOnline.com website for more information about the program.

Under the program, physicians achieving United’s criteria for quality and cost thresholds will receive a Premium Designation on their physician profile, marketed to United members through the United online physician directory. In addition, employers may choose to offer health benefit programs (e.g., reduced cost-sharing or tiered benefit programs) that provide benefit incentives for members to use only physicians with the United Healthcare Premium Designation.

The California Medical Association will provide more information on this program as details are released.