September 13, 2024 | News updates:
- With the clock ticking and in an effort to reach a resolution, Florida Blue has put forward a multi-year proposal that would significantly increase Baptist Health’s rates over the next several years. However, this is not enough for Baptist, which is demanding a cumulative 60% increase in rates over the next five years – more than three times medical inflation.
- Baptist Health’s latest offer would amount to more than $1 billion in increased costs to the community – an unprecedented rate increase demand that would impose a staggering burden for members, the ones who pay for your health care.
- Baptist Health’s demands would increase health care costs significantly and directly – for individuals, families, small and medium-sized businesses, and our area’s largest employers including teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and major area corporations.
- Florida Blue reached out to Baptist leaders last week regarding coverage for services at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. We have appealed to Baptist executives to prioritize coverage for children, including a generous offer to increase payments for Wolfson even if we cannot reach a broader agreement.
- Baptist has historically negotiated to include adult and children’s services at the same rates. Florida Blue is willing to offer a higher rate of reimbursement for children’s services at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
- If we don’t have a new contract in place as of Oct. 1, Florida Blue will still pay claims for services at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, ensuring uninterrupted care for our children and families.
- We are currently seeking a letter of agreement with Baptist Health to ensure they do not stand in the way of that care.
Continuation of Care
- We have established strong relationships with all major health care systems in the area including Mayo, UF Health, Ascension St Vincent’s, HCA and Brooks Rehabilitation.
- We have expanded our partnership with Mayo Clinic Jacksonville to provide additional access to Florida Blue’s HMO BlueCare members.
- Florida Blue is also strengthening our relationship with UF Health, actively collaborating to explore innovative new ways that will expand access to care for Northeast Florida through this leading health care organization.
- Baptist Health is a trusted area health care leader and our goal remains an agreement with them, and a future that includes Baptist in our network. That said, if they choose to abandon patients and leave our network, Florida Blue and our many area health care partners are prepared to ensure uninterrupted care and protect the care needs of everyone across Northeast Florida.
Media statement:
“It is Florida Blue’s responsibility to protect our members from out-of-control and unnecessary cost increases which they cannot afford. Baptist Health’s latest demands remain outrageous and unacceptable. Their proposed rate increase – over $1 billion in additional reimbursements – would unfairly burden our members and this community. Our proposal strikes a fair balance, meeting Baptist’s needs while protecting our members’ interests and preserving their access to the doctors we all respect. It is our members’ money is at stake here, so Florida Blue must stand firm in our promise to deliver affordable care to them.”
Current situation:
- With just 17 days left in our current agreement, time is of the essence. Our latest proposal to Baptist Health Jacksonville is a fair, reasonable, and generous offer – and it’s time for Baptist Health to listen and to do what is right for the community.
- Florida Blue and Baptist Health have worked together for nearly 70 years, yet Baptist Health says they are better off going out-of-network with Florida Blue than agreeing to a fair deal, leaving patients and families to bear the consequences.
- We want to emphasize that our issue is absolutely not with the exceptional doctors, nurses, or medical staff at Baptist Health who provide outstanding care to our community. The concern is the outrageous Baptist Health rate demands that would lead to skyrocketing medical costs in Northeast Florida.
Setting the Record Straight – The Numbers
- The increases Baptist Health is demanding would cost Florida Blue members hundreds of millions in higher premiums and cost-sharing.
- Florida Blue has offered a multi-year agreement at very competitive terms that exceed medical inflation, which Baptist Health leaders have rejected.
- Baptist Health is demanding an increase of almost 3.5 times medical inflation.
For more information:
- Reach out to Aleizha Batson: Aleizha.Batson@FloridaBlue.com
- For updates visit: https://www.floridablue.com/negotiation/baptisthealthjax
- Members can visit us in person at one of four Florida Blue Centers in Jacksonville, or call the number on the back of their membership card.
Be the first to comment