Officials: Blue Cross members should see little change
DAVE PAYNE Sr., dpayne@newsandsentinel.comMARIETTA - Although Marietta Health Care Physicians has severed ties with Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield's provider network, that situation should have little affect on how much Mountain state members pay out-of-pocket, officials said.
Fred Earley II, the senior vice president of external operations for Mountain State in Parkersburg, said Marietta Health Care Physicians Inc. terminated its affiliation with Mountain State effective Monday.
The Blue Shield provider network allows Blue Cross members to receive care from certain health care providers with less out-of-pocket cost. The physician's group is made up of more than 50 doctors and is a subsidiary of Marietta Memorial Hospital, but a separate entity, said Larry Unroe, MMH CEO.
Unroe said the physician's group does have a contract with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, which covers Ohio, and would be part of the national Blue Cross network. Mountain State members should notice little difference and maintain in-network benefits, he said.
The Mountain State contract with Marietta Memorial Hospital is not affected and does not expire until Oct. 31, 2011, Earley said.
Hospital spokesperson Jennifer Offenberger said patients should still be able to see doctors who are part of Marietta Health Care Physicians and use their existing insurance card. She said less than five percent of the patients who use the health care physician's doctors have Mountain State.
"We don't expect any real change at all for our patients," she said.
Early said Mountain State recently sent a letter to members who received care from the Marietta Health Care doctors, explaining they should contact their provider to verify the physician is still part of the Blue Cross system through Anthem.
