Patients have questions as Lovelace and Blue Cross Blue Shield are in the middle of a dispute that could put people’s health care in jeopardy come June 1.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A possible split between Lovelace Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico could leave some cancer patients facing out-of-network costs.
Lovelace Health System stated they’re still working to reach a new agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico. If the sides do not finalize a deal by June 1, some Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico members could have to pay out-of-network costs to keep getting care at Lovelace facilities.
That could mean trouble for people like Steve Norte, a retired teacher in Albuquerque who is undergoing cancer treatment and expects to start radiation this summer.
“I haven’t experienced anything that would lead me to not trust my doctors. All of them I respect and I’m one that, you tell me what to do and I’ll be glad to do it,” he said.
Norte said he has spent months going through surgeries, appointments and testing. He said starting over somewhere else does not feel realistic.
With June 1 looming, he has reached out to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Lovelace and the New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority.
“And nothing seemed unreasonable. I see no reason to switch from Lovelace. Basically, they’re the same as any other health care organization. But like I said, I’m right in the middle of a rapids and I’m not going to jump ship in the middle,” he said.
Lovelace stated patients, who are pregnant or actively receiving treatment, may be able to apply for continuity of care through Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico. That could temporarily allow them to keep their current providers covered.
“Other things that come along with that, keeping up with medication, going to doctor’s appointments, I don’t need that added stress of wondering if my bills are going to get paid. I worked 50-plus years putting into my retirement, Social Security, Medicare and now it’s my turn to start having that taken care of. And I don’t see it being taken care of,” Norte said.
KOB reached out to Lovelace for comment on the negotiations and what it wants patients to know moving forward. We have not heard back yet.
