Nemours Offers BCBSF Patients Transition Assistance Prior to Contract Terminations
Nemours Enterprise
Monday, October 30, 2006 @ 12:00 AM EST
Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems, announced today its intent to terminate its contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) effective January 1, 2007. The reasons for termination include the current reimbursement rate offered by BCBSF being far less than what it costs Nemours to provide care to its patients.
“The reimbursement terms being offered by BCBSF are insufficient to support the level of care required by our patients. We continue to remain committed to our mission – to improve the health of children by providing one high standard of quality care,” said R. Jay Cummings, MD, Vice President of Physician Practices for Nemours Florida. “Nemours simply cannot continue to subsidize the significant costs of providing these services on BCBSF’s behalf. Reimbursement must take into consideration the rising costs associated with providing highly specialized physician services to some very sick children.”
Nemours’ decision will impact its more than 125 pediatric specialist physicians who will no longer be participating providers in BCBSF networks and approximately 42,000 patients who will no longer be able to access Nemours through a BCBSF-administered health plan.
Nemours is committed to providing the highest quality care and, therefore, is offering financial assistance to qualifying patients. Nemours will work with all affected patients to transfer care as necessary. Additionally, Nemours remains committed to negotiating a new agreement with BCBSF for the betterment of all parties involved.
Nemours patients needing assistance in understanding their care options are encouraged to call the Nemours Kids Health Care Hotline at: 1-800-SOS-KIDS ext 3196.
modified: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 @ 04:33 PM EST
created: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 @ 04:33 PM EST
About Nemours
Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.
Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.
Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.
