Physicians wanting to speak directly to a Blue Cross of California medical director are welcome to call a dedicated phone number--818/234-5072--newly set up for the purpose, says Jeff Kamil, MD, the company's vice president and senior medical director.

"This is more about clinical issues, but they can call and complain or whatever they want, and we'll get their concern resolved or at least answered," Dr. Kamil says. "It hasn't been clear how to reach a medical director of Blue Cross, and we thought we'd make it perfectly clear." Los Angeles County Medical Association President David Aizuss, MD, had requested the contact information, he adds.

Doctors can call and speak to a particular medical director by name. Another medical director will field the call if the requested official is not available, Dr. Kamil says. The line is intended as a physician-only resource, he says.

Below is a list of the medical directors, their titles, their individual phone lines and their specialties.

Jeff Kamil, MD
818/234-6317
Directs quality operations and clinical aspects of medical management for the West Region, including California.

Michael Belman, MD
818/234-2852
Assures medical quality through oversight of regulatory and accreditation activities with the California Department of Managed Health Care, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and the company's HMO pay-for-performance program.

Alan Brooker, DO, MBA
916/858-3593
Works with the company's delegated participating medical groups to improve utilization management, member access and quality of care. Acts as statewide liaison for Blue Cross and its hospital quality-improvement initiative. Focuses on Northern California.

Zeinab Dabbah, MD
818/234-4108
Works to develop and improve medical management programs, including concurrent review, prior authorization and case management.

Barsam Kasravi, MD, MPH
818/234-2019
Responsible for the medical review unit--a team of clinicians deciding coding, reimbursement and clinical services issues.

Richard Lehrfeld, MD, JD
818/234-4430
Responsible for grievance and appeal processes for PPO and HMO products. Also involved in physician credentialing.

Anthony Nguyen, MD, MBA, FACP
818/234-2077
Oversees all clinical programs for state-sponsored products in California.

Gilbert Solomon, MD, MPH
818/234-4155
Oversees initial utilization management pre-service requests and concurrent reviews for acute hospitals, rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities.

Kurt Tamaru, MD, MBA
818/234-4817
Works with delegated participating medical groups to improve utilization management, member access and quality of care. Focuses on Southern California.