Hopkins is dropping CareFirst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Delivering at Inova Fairfax in December. Does anyone know if Inova is Hopkins?

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/about/johnshopkins-health-system-corp.html

it's not. the hopkins hospitals are without hopkins in the name are: howard general, suburban, and sibley

Thank you for the information much appreciated

[Anonymous]

MCPS is dropping CareFirst as an option for employees and retirees, which I find really annoying as a cancer patient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may not stick. Brinksmanship is common in the negotiations between powerful provider networks and insurers. They are probably contractually required to provide notice, but sending this sort of notice also gives JH significant leverage, as complaints will start pouring into CF. Even if JH actually goes out of network, it may only be for a short time, as the complaints often bring the parties back to the negotiating table. Still, absolutely sucks for patients.

Have Care First / BCBS, due in early 2023, and my OB only has privileges at Sibley. Both of our employers only offer BCBS.

Yes, I'd be furious. What will your employers do to accommodate this?

Literally nothing. She’ll have to get a new OB.

Good luck, PP.

Correct. This is PP. I will have to change OBs in the third trimester.

What a shitty situation PP. I'm sorry you're stuck in this so close to your due date. I use the Sibley MfMs so I may have to switch just MFM for 3rd trimester (due early March). Definitely not as disruptive as your situation

If you do have to switch OBs, you could consider Dr. DrSouza. He can deliver at both Sibley and GW.

[Anonymous]

This REAKS of a political power play to pressure BCBS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may not stick. Brinksmanship is common in the negotiations between powerful provider networks and insurers. They are probably contractually required to provide notice, but sending this sort of notice also gives JH significant leverage, as complaints will start pouring into CF. Even if JH actually goes out of network, it may only be for a short time, as the complaints often bring the parties back to the negotiating table. Still, absolutely sucks for patients.

Have Care First / BCBS, due in early 2023, and my OB only has privileges at Sibley. Both of our employers only offer BCBS.

Yes, I'd be furious. What will your employers do to accommodate this?

DP here. If the situation is not resolved, she will have to change providers before she delivers unless she wants to pay $8-10k for her delivery.

Or tens of thousands if there are even the slightest complications after birth.

[Anonymous]

Does Hopkins own Holy Cross?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Hopkins own Holy Cross?

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may not stick. Brinksmanship is common in the negotiations between powerful provider networks and insurers. They are probably contractually required to provide notice, but sending this sort of notice also gives JH significant leverage, as complaints will start pouring into CF. Even if JH actually goes out of network, it may only be for a short time, as the complaints often bring the parties back to the negotiating table. Still, absolutely sucks for patients.

Have Care First / BCBS, due in early 2023, and my OB only has privileges at Sibley. Both of our employers only offer BCBS.

Yes, I'd be furious. What will your employers do to accommodate this?

Literally nothing. She’ll have to get a new OB.

Good luck, PP.

Correct. This is PP. I will have to change OBs in the third trimester.

What a shitty situation PP. I'm sorry you're stuck in this so close to your due date. I use the Sibley MfMs so I may have to switch just MFM for 3rd trimester (due early March). Definitely not as disruptive as your situation

If you do have to switch OBs, you could consider Dr. DrSouza. He can deliver at both Sibley and GW.

I’m with Dr DeSouza now and my due date is in mid-December. We live quite close to Sibley but a bit far away from GW. This is so frustrating since you don’t even know when they’ll let you know if they can reach a deal or not. My due date is so close to December 5th and I don’t know what to do right now…

[Anonymous]

as an orthopedic surgeon in the area i fully support johns hopkins approach to this issue

carefirst pays less than medicare

my costs for every aspect of staying in business have risen at a staggering rate since covid and we find it difficult to maintain good staff without paying competitive rates for our employees.

having a large number of carefirst patients makes this difficult as they crowd out slots for better paying insurances

all blue cross insurances pay different rates and they are all licensees of the blue cross name, not a unified company

i also however disagree with the timing. this should be coordinated at open season for enrollment in other plans

however the contract expiration between hopkins and blue cross may dictate the timing of this announcement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:as an orthopedic surgeon in the area i fully support johns hopkins approach to this issue

carefirst pays less than medicare

my costs for every aspect of staying in business have risen at a staggering rate since covid and we find it difficult to maintain good staff without paying competitive rates for our employees.

having a large number of carefirst patients makes this difficult as they crowd out slots for better paying insurances

all blue cross insurances pay different rates and they are all licensees of the blue cross name, not a unified company

i also however disagree with the timing. this should be coordinated at open season for enrollment in other plans

however the contract expiration between hopkins and blue cross may dictate the timing of this announcement

What insurance would you recommend doc?

[Anonymous]

Wait, does this cancellation by Hopkins include BCBS federal employee programs??

[Anonymous]

I hope this gets rectified quickly.

[Anonymous]

How about united healthcare? We can only choose between carefirst and united healthcare…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is dropping CareFirst as an option for employees and retirees, which I find really annoying as a cancer patient.

I'm also an MCPS cancer patient and was furious about the switch, but now with this kerfuffle between Hopkins and CareFirst, I'm wondering if it's not a blessing in disguise. My surgeon and radiation oncologist and all my imaging are through Hopkins. There may be a problem in December but at least we'll have an out on Jan 1, unlike some other patients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, does this cancellation by Hopkins include BCBS federal employee programs??

I think so. We have BCBS Fed and got a letter in the mail from John’s Hopkins about this.