Now that the settlement agreement with Humana has been announced in the Academy's, et. al., suit against four local insurers, a number of activities will occur in the coming weeks:

• A "fairness hearing" has been scheduled for December 29 during which the Ohio and Kentucky judges will review and rule on the terms of the agreement.
• A formal mass mailing will be sent to all area physicians explaining the settlement and providing instructions on options relevant to the agreement.
• Open forums are being planned to give area physicians the opportunity to meet with the attorneys and ask questions.
• The possibility of a hotline or web-based bulletin board for questions and the exhange of information is also being explored.
• Finally, the Academy will continue to communicate through Cincinnati Medicine Digest, blast faxes and e-mails, and via the Web on a regular basis as new information becomes available.

Despite some press reports to the contrary, there is no language in the agreement that limits the increased reimbursement funds to certain specialties.

Meanwhile, the suit against the other three insurers continues. On Friday, October 24, Judge Bamburger in the Kentucky Court denied our motion for class certification pending a ruling by the Appeals Court in Kentucky. That Court has yet to rule on the matter of forcing physicians to arbitrate with the insurers per their individual contracts.