AUSTIN, Texas — The clock is ticking for Baylor Scott & White Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
The hospital system and insurance company have until July 1 to negotiate a new contract, or else Baylor Scott and White will no longer be in-network for Blue Cross Blue Shield customers.
If negotiations do not work out, the consequences are concerning to independent patient advocate Belynda Montgomery.
"It sounds like it's months and months of backlog and misinformation and not understanding if when you're going to an appointment, if it's going to be covered," Montgomery said.
KVUE reached out to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for an interview. They provided the following statement:
"Baylor Scott & White Health notified us that they are terminating their physician and hospital agreements on July 1, 2024, unless we significantly increase what we pay them. We continue to negotiate in good faith. Our goal is to reach an agreement that would protect our members’ and customers’ access to quality care at fair rates.
If we cannot reach an agreement, our members will continue to have access to a robust network of doctors, health care professionals, hospitals, and facilities throughout North and Central Texas.
Members who are pregnant or are being treated for a disability, acute condition or life-threatening illness may qualify for continuity of care. This means they would continue to receive care at BSW at in-network rates.
We provide the latest updates at bcbstx.com/bsw"
KVUE also reached out to Baylor Scott & White Health for an interview. They provided the following statement:
"At Baylor Scott & White Health, our patients are our priority, and we’re continuing to negotiate in good faith to prevent any disruption.
Currently, patients with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) health insurance plans have in-network coverage with our providers and facilities, and we are working to reach a new agreement before July 1, 2024, to keep BCBSTX plan holders in-network.
For more information, please visit www.BSWHealth.com/BCBSTX"
So far, Montgomery does not have faith in the timing of these negotiations.
"Not knowing that until July 1, when you it's you know already almost mid-June ... I just think it's unreasonable, and I think they should do better," Montgomery said. "A delay in care means a delay of education for what might be going on with them. It's a delay in fixing it or making it better. So it's just kicking the can down the road."
Montgomery said issues like these happen all the time. Last year, Ascension Texas Hospitals and Blue Cross and Blue Shield were in negotiations that could have resulted in the company dropping Ascension from its in-network coverage, but they ultimately reached an agreement.
"They're not putting the people first and when you do that, it really is a detriment to the whole system and the confidence people have in the system," Montgomery said.
For Baylor Scott & White patients who are insured under Blue Cross Blue Shield, it is recommended that they fill out a continuity of care form, in order to have coverage beyond July 1 if a new contract does not come together.