Insurance could be dropped for some patients at West Tenn. Healthcare
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Patients at West Tennessee Healthcare with insurance through BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee could soon have to change healthcare providers. “Unfortunately, after a year of negotiations with West Tennessee Healthcare we’ve not been able to reach an agreement that meets what we feel is our commitment to our members to keep costs affordable,” Mary Danielson with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee said. West Tennessee Healthcare said 20 percent of its patients are insured through BlueCross BlueShield. The hospital’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Blankenship stated in a release, “We plan to continue meeting with representatives to negotiate a new contract that ensures continued coverage for our patients.” The insurance provider would not go into details about what is keeping either of the companies from reaching a negotiation but said they will keep trying until the deadline. “For us, it’s about affordability issues for our members, and we cannot maintain an affordable network and pay West Tennessee Healthcare the rates they are requesting from us,” Danielson said. The organizations have until May 14 to make a deal or part ways.
