Health and Wellness News
In this decade alone, 60 million people will retire and more than 6,000
people will turn 65 each day. As our members reach retirement age in
record numbers, Local 49 continues to work with programs that are the
best for all members while providing value for you and your family.
Unfortunately, one of our area’s largest medical providers, Park
Nicollet, has decided to slam the door on Local 49’s Humana seniors and
their families.
If you’re covered on the Humana Group Medicare Plan offered by Local 49
to its Medicare members, you received a letter last fall from Park
Nicollet informing you that as of April 1, 2008, they will no longer
accept your coverage. That fast-approaching April 1st deadline still
remains.
Patient’s who rely on Medicare Advantage plans such as our Humana Group
Medicare Plan are covered by what’s known as Private Fee-For-Service
plans, probably the fastest-growing Medicare form of health management
in the country. These plans were instituted by the federal government
and approved by the state of Minnesota. They are growing in popularity
because they give seniors a better plan at a better price. For people
on a fixed income, this is vital coverage.
Park Nicollet has accepted Medicare Advantage plans for several years.
But now they don’t think they can profit enough. So Park Nicollet has
simply chosen to refuse care to patients with Medicare Advantage plans.
This decision puts many seniors at risk, and frankly smacks of
favoritism for the specific HMO and PPO plans they have aligned
themselves within an effort to amass even more profit.
We were made aware of this decision by Park Nicollet and Methodist
Hospital and began to fight the decision they made. Since November of
2007, we have had countless meetings, conference calls, and one-on-one
discussions with senior administrators and high level medical decision
makers. Humana also worked diligently to see if they could negotiate a
special agreement that would provide IUOE Local 49 Humana retirees the
option of continuing medical care at these facilities. We’ve even
engaged Minnesota’s office of the Attorney General asking for help and
support.
In spite of countless hours of effort on our part, Park Nicollet and
Methodist Hospital remain steadfast in their refusal to accept the
Humana Medicare Gold Choice insurance product as well as other Medicare
plans. The Park Nicollet Medical Group and Methodist Hospital stated
the decision was made for “business reasons.”
IUOE Local 49 retirees and family members who have been receiving their
medical care at Park Nicollet and affiliated clinics will regrettably
need to find new doctors as of April 1, 2008. To assist you in this
transition, IUOE Local 49 has done the following:
• We have requested Park Nicollet/Methodist Hospital provide you with
copies of all your medical records at no charge so they can be
immediately transferred to your new physicians. Your new physicians
will need this medical history information to continue your care and
treatments with minimal disruption.
• IUOE Local 49 has demanded that Park Nicollet/Methodist continue to
provide you with necessary services until such time as you have found
other appropriate medical doctors.
• Health Systems Management, the IUOE Local 49 Patient Advocacy
Program, is working with Humana to assist in locating new doctors who
can provide for your needs. Please call Health Systems Management at
their toll free number, 1-866-961-1119, and they will assist you in
finding new doctors and help you with any special needs.