Impasse could affect health coverage for Blue Cross patients at OU Medical Center

Feb. 28--Oklahomans insured through Blue Cross Blue Shield won't be covered for health care services at the OU Medical Center, The Children's Hospital or Edmond OU Medical Center, effective Saturday, unless the insurance company and Hospital Corp. of America, which governs OU Medical Systems with the state, reach an agreement by midnight Friday, The Oklahoman has learned.

"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is a non-investor-owned company and we are accountable to our members. We have a duty and responsibility to hold the line on medical cost increases and we take that role very seriously," Ted Haynes, president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, said in a statement.

"We understand that any disruption of the hospitals and doctors in our network is cause for concern for our members," Haynes said.

"We are fully committed to addressing and minimizing problems that may be caused for our members as a result of HCA's decision to end their contract with us."

OU Medical Systems spokesman Scott Coppenbarger said, barring an 11th-hour agreement, patients with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma insurance may not have coverage for nonemergency medical services at OU facilities, or Blue Cross may require them to pay higher out-of-network copays and deductibles for those services.

"We are optimistic an agreement will be reached before Friday's deadline," Coppenbarger said. "Our BCBSOK-insured patients depend on our unique services that are important and necessary for our community -- services other hospitals do not provide, such as comprehensive pediatric services in the only free-standing children's hospital in Oklahoma, the highest-level neonatal intensive care unit, air ambulance service for critically ill newborns and the many medical specialties that ensure the highest level of healthcare for our children at a moment's notice."

Coppenbarger said OU Medical Systems also provides the highest level of trauma services with round-the-clock specialties, comprehensive care, surgical and medical trauma surgeons on site with state-of-the-art equipment capable of treating the most severe and critical injuries.

"OU Medical Center Trauma One serves patients from the entire state. We also have an elite comprehensive stroke center and cutting-edge cancer services -- the list goes on," he said.

Emergency care will be available regardless of insurance plans, Coppenbarger said.

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