BCBS members lose in-network access to CHI hospitals By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry | December 17, 2020 at 5:30 PM CST - Updated December 17 at 8:20 PM
LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - Approximately 65,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas members have lost in-network access to CHI Texas Division locations, including the CHI hospital in Lufkin.
Contract negotiations between the two parties broke down at last night’s deadline.
CHI St. Luke’s CEO, Doug Lawson, said today the two parties definitely need one another.
”Without a doubt. Without a doubt, but we can longer be in the position where we are significantly underpaid for the services that we are providing to the community. We cannot invest in the facilities that the communities need. We cannot invest in replacement technology and competing and paying staff a competitive salary has become increasingly difficult with the rates we have been receiving,” he said.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas members no longer have in-network access to Bryan and College Station CHI St. Joseph hospitals after leaders failed to reach an agreement on health care costs.Â
The change is expected to impact about 65,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield members across CHIâs Texas locations, St. Lukeâs Health CEO Doug Lawson said Thursday.
CHI St. Lukeâs Health, whose parent organization is CommonSpirit Health, is made up of 16 hospitals across Houston, Bryan-College Station and East Texas, including the Bryan and College Station CHI St. Joseph hospitals.Â
On June 17, CHI St. Lukeâs Health issued BCBSTX a 180-day notice of termination with intent to renegotiate. In October, Lawson said that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas reimbursement rates are 25% or more below competitorsâ rates. He said without an increase in rates, the hospitalâs ability to function properly could be compromised.Â