After Jaime highlighted loss of health care access by rural Pacific County residents, Premera announces new contract for health care coverage in Astoria

U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler applauded a recent announcement by Premera Insurance that it has made arrangements to continue providing health care coverage at an Astoria hospital for Pacific County residents. This move comes after Jaime publicly highlighted the plight of rural Pacific County residents who would be cut off from having medical care 30 minutes away in Astoria covered by insurance, and would instead be forced to travel nearly an hour and a half away for many vital services. Jaime also formally requested that Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler take immediate action to remedy this looming health care crisis.

"For every parent in Pacific County; for every mature resident or expectant mother who receives regular checkups; the decision by Premera to continue to provide health care coverage in Astoria can literally mean the difference between life and death," Jaime said. "An hour and a half drive to see a cardiologist or ob/gyn is substandard health care for anyone, and I share the feeling of relief with many residents that my calls for action were heeded and folks in the southern portion of Pacific County can continue to access care close to home."

Premera announced that its contract with Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria will remain indefinitely and all services provided through the hospital, and by many of the providers who are employed by the hospital, will be readily available for folks in Pacific County. These specialties include: cardiology, endocrinology, general surgery, ob/gyn, orthopedics, pediatrics, primary care, and urology.

Premera has said it encourages its customers to consult the provider directory for their health plan to confirm network status for a particular provider.

Read this original document at: https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399122