Paris, Tenn.–After weeks of no response at all, BlueCare finally responded to Henry County Medical Center’s request for a higher reimbursement rate. But the response was way less than what Hospital CEO John Tucker said will be enough to keep the OB unit open.
Tucker noted after waiting 7 1/2 weeks to hear back from BlueCare, the Tenncare insurance provider offered only a 25 percent increase for this year and a 10-12 percent increase for next year.
That was not the news that the hospital board or the dozens of people who filled the board meeting room wanted to hear.
Tucker provided a timeline for closure of the OB department. OB services will cease September 4, he said, but follow-up care of patients will continue through September. A unit which provides only gynecology services will open October 1, he said. Notices will be sent to patients starting next week, providing 30-day notice of the change in services.
Numerous audience members voiced their strong displeasure with the pending closure of the OB unit and the part that Bluecare has played in it.
Susan Jones of Paris, a spokesperson with Northwest Tennessee Cares said, “It was with great sadness that our organization heard of the absurd rate of reimbursement that BlueCare a Blue Cross/Blue Shield program from TennCare, has offered our hospital. BlueCare had an opportunity to make an incredible difference for families, not only in Henry County, but in Benton, Carroll, Weakley and Stewart Counties, but they blew it.”
Northwest Tennessee Cares is a grassroots organization which has been lobbying the last several weeks to keep the OB open.
BlueCare “blew it for the mothers who will be on the road for at least an hour and a half to use obstetric services equal to what we offer right here at Henry County Medical Center,” she said. “They blew it for the employers in the region who are now going to lose hours upon hours of pregnant employees’ time as these women make their way to and from their pre-natal visits and deliveries.
Jones said, “BlueCare blew it for Northwest Tennessee economic development….as it will be next to impossible to recruit and retain industries in a maternity dessert.They blew it for people like realtors, builders and plumbers and shop owners, restaurant owners, a wide array of health care workers and others who depend on thriving communities for their success,” she said, noting that BlueCare also blew it for retiree recruitment to our area.
“How about … the dedicated staff members who consider the HCMC OB unit their home. That’s right they blew that too,” she said. Northwest Tennessee Cares is staying on the job to help the HCMC administration, board, physicians and staff work in this impossible situation. We are staying on the job for moms and babies. It doesn’t have to be like this y’all.”