The ongoing dispute between Piedmont Hospital and Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance company has left many of the county’s residents angry and confused over their healthcare options starting July 1.
The two sides were in negotiations over a new contract, when Blue Cross broke off the talks earlier this month and said that Piedmont was asking for too big an increase in payments.
But last week, the hospital filed suit against the insurance giant claiming the company was engaging in false advertising, unfair and deceptive trade practices and interfering with the hospital’s business relationships.
“Patients are being held hostage by Blue Cross and their misleading communications. Piedmont Healthcare must protect our patients by ensuring that they receive accurate information,” said Piedmont’s vice president of marketing and public relations Nina Montanero.
The issue was addressed at the Fayette County Commission meeting last week as the county braces to provide a healthcare answer for its more than 700 employees.
Insurance consultant Guy Morrison of Strategic Benefit Solutions told the commission the dispute may go right down to the bitter end.
“Historically, the two parties will agree on a contract, but we have to have a contingency plan,” he said.
The insurance company has sent out letters to customers advising that a new doctor needs to be chosen and that all Piedmont physicians and hospitals will no longer be covered.
Morrison said he went back and looked at the most recent request for proposal on insurance coverage and looked at other companies that could match the benefits and premiums, along with most closely aligning with the network of physicians that Blue Cross offers. After going over the facts and figures, he said CIGNA emerged as the winner.
“They have a network that includes all the Piedmont providers,” he said.
Should a deal between Blue Cross and Piedmont not occur, Morrison said the words that all Fayette County employees were glad to hear.
“You will be covered on July 1. It may take some time to get new cards, but you will have coverage.”
The County Commission thanked Morrison for his hard work, but hoped that a deal could be worked out soon.
“It’s just unnerving to me,” said Commissioner Herb Frady.
Commission Chairman Greg Dunn said the same situation occurred a few years ago, and he was getting tired of the process.
“We’ve got people in the hospital. What are they going to do, transfer them on July 1?” he said.
Piedmont Fayette Hospital CEO Darrel Cutts also attended the meeting and offered his opinion on the issue.
“Piedmont is not the one that stopped the negotiations. We’ll gladly compare their earnings to hospital earnings,” he said.
Fayette County’s largest employee, the Fayette County School System, also has Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance for its employees. School officials did not return calls by presstime to offer its contingency plan.
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