Norton/Anthem agreement too little too late for some
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-10-20 18:22:48 | Word Count: 594
For many of us this is a reconciliation that couldn't have come a moment too soon. Norton Healthcare and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KY have resolved their differences and signed a three year contract. The question is, did the four month long dispute leave a bad taste in many people's mouths?
For many, it was a major inconvenience. They've switched dcotors or bit the bullet and paid out-of-network costs. So now that Norton and Anthem are friends again, are they friends of yours?
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Some say yes, but others say its too little too late.
For Greg Nickels, President of a small air conditioning and heating business, news that Norton Healthcare and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are back together is a long time coming.
"They anticipated it would be determined within a matter of weeks. That was four months ago. I got nervous," said Greg Nickels, President of Automatic Air Corp. Air Conditioning and Heating.
Norton and Anthem have signed a new three year contract, the specific details have not been released, but for Greg and his 25 employees it means: access to all five Norton hospitals, their 14 outpatient centers and 300 physicians, at the in-network costs.
This comes three and a half months after the two severed ties.
"Thankfully, there were no major or significant problems here at work," said Nickels. For patients, things are back to status quo before the split, but Greg says this rocky relationship has him uneasy.
After all, Norton and Anthem were in a three year contract when they parted ways. He says a new contract doesn't mean another dispute and break up won't happen again. So he's not sure whether he'll stay with Anthem.
"We've been with our provider for many years. But we're keeping our options open just out of need. We may be required to do that," said Nickels.
WHAS11 viewers told us on our website that, "Nortons backed out of an existing contract this year. What is to keep them from doing it again with this 3 year deal. Sorry Nortons, I will continue to use Baptist East and Jewish."
"... too late! The damage is done! I have moved onto another doctor! Norton's lost a life long customer (since 1970)."
"I am so happy that things seem to be resolved now. I need surgery but the doctor I wanted I could not go to but now I can..."
"Now if they really want to do the right thing go back over the last three months of claims patients have filed and pay them in-network instead of out-of-network."
WHAS11 News asked Norton and Anthem representatives about claims made during that 4 month dispute period. Their response was that they're working that out now.
Because of the patient financial accommodations Norton Healthcare had in place since July 1, few if any Anthem patients should have experienced any financial hardships during the out-of-network period
