July 21, 2021
Update: Negotiations with Saint Francis Health System
As we near July 29, the end of our 90-day transition period with Saint Francis Health System, we would like to give you an update on the status of our negotiation.
While we hoped to have a deal by now, Saint Francis’ actions lead us to believe they are stalling with the hopes of putting more pressure on us and negatively impacting our reputation. Rather than focusing on coming to a resolution to protect our members and allow them access to Saint Francis doctors and hospitals, their leadership team is spreading misleading information. We want you to have accurate information to share with customers and employees.
Even though negotiations have moved slower than we hoped, rest assured we’re diligently working with Saint Francis to find a solution that is in the best interest of our customers and employers. We have priorities that must be addressed in all our providers’ contracts including those with Saint Francis. Above all, we must:
- Ensure reimbursement for all locations is fair and aligned with the current market and;
- Provide our members with access to quality health care without sacrificing the value of their monthly premium dollars and increasing their out-of-pocket costs.
Why we’re doing this: Saint Francis is purchasing and/or building off-campus locations for many outpatient services. They want the highest reimbursement of their main campus to apply to all their off-campus locations. Depending on the service, this may cost our members up to 15 times more for typical off-campus clinic services such as:
- Cancer treatment
- Physical and/or occupational therapy
- Emergency department
- Imaging (CT, MRI, etc.)
This means that our members would pay much more out of pocket at a Saint Francis off-campus clinic. In addition, our members may have to meet their deductible and pay a percentage of the overall bill rather than paying a simple copay, like other office or clinic visits.
Health care is deeply personal, and we know it can be difficult to see this negotiation play out publicly.
Unfortunately, Saint Francis’ latest tactic has been to promote alternative health insurance providers, namely CommunityCare Oklahoma. Saint Francis co-owns and operates CommunityCare along with another health system that is owned by an out-of-state company.
Who we are: For more than 81 years, we’ve been committed to Oklahomans and our communities. We have more than 1,100 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) employees living, serving and seeking care every day in Oklahoma.
Our reputation as the only statewide customer-owned health insurer speaks for itself.
- We continually strengthen our ties to Oklahoma through initiatives to improve local communities, including our Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® grant program, Oklahoma Caring Vans, annual Champions of Health awards, and Blue Corps Employee Volunteer Program.
- When Oklahomans needed us the most during the COVID-19 pandemic, BCBSOK spent more than $120 million on COVID relief without the support of any funds from the federal CARES Act.
It’s time to speak up: Contact Saint Francis leadership at 918-494-5532 and ask them to come to an agreement with us that protects the interests of all Oklahomans and holds the line on health care cost increases.
We’re still committed to working with Saint Francis to find a solution that will ensure our members, employers and producers are getting the right care, at the right place, for the right price. Regardless of whether Saint Francis is in or out of our networks, rest assured all our members will have access to quality, affordable health care through our robust provider networks.
Stay connected to www.bcbsok.com/saintfrancis for updates. Members can also call the number on their member ID card.
