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Health and Wellness News

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Martha LaFave
Fund Cordinator

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.

 
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