News Summary
New York-Presbyterian has reached a new agreement with Healthfirst to continue in-network medical coverage for thousands of patients. This deal ensures that over 200,000 Healthfirst members can access services at New York-Presbyterian facilities without interruption. The agreement follows a previous contract termination threat and guarantees that members, including those on Medicaid and Medicare, can continue using their benefits. This is particularly significant for vulnerable communities relying on Healthfirst insurance for healthcare services.
New York – New York-Presbyterian has reached an agreement with the nonprofit insurer Healthfirst to maintain medical coverage for thousands of patients across its facilities. This deal, announced on Monday, ensures that in-network coverage will continue at more than 450 outpatient and inpatient locations.
The new agreement follows a notification from New York-Presbyterian to Healthfirst in July about the termination of their previous contract without cause. This termination threatened to force patients to pay out of pocket for services at New York-Presbyterian facilities, beginning in early November. However, the new deal allows Healthfirst members, primarily those covered by Medicaid and Medicare, to continue using their insurance at New York-Presbyterian without disruption.
Approximately 200,000 Healthfirst members utilized services at New York-Presbyterian in the past year, making the deal particularly significant for these patients. Healthfirst serves over 2 million members across New York and has begun notifying its members that they will remain in-network at New York-Presbyterian facilities. This timely communication comes following a mandatory legal requirement to inform patients about coverage changes resulting from the contract termination.
The agreement takes effect immediately, ensuring that all affiliated physicians, including those from ColumbiaDoctors and Weill Cornell Medicine, remain in-network for Healthfirst members. Healthfirst’s coverage is deemed essential, especially for vulnerable communities, including low-income recipients of Medicaid who rely on such insurance for access to healthcare services.
New York-Presbyterian had been in negotiations with Healthfirst for months preceding the contract termination, with the previous agreement originally set to extend through 2027. The ongoing discussions had reached an impasse, prompting the hospital to issue a termination notice, though it expressed a commitment to continue negotiating with Healthfirst to secure patient coverage.
This recent negotiation marks another chapter in the complex relationship between New York-Presbyterian and various insurance providers, as the hospital is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice for antitrust concerns regarding its insurance practices. The ability for patients to maintain in-network coverage at New York-Presbyterian is bolstered by this agreement, which allows for continued access to critical healthcare services.
The importance of this deal has been underscored by various stakeholders, including Representative Adriano Espaillat, who emphasized the significance of healthcare as a human right. The agreement represents a critical step in safeguarding the healthcare options available to New York’s most vulnerable populations and provides reassurance to patients who depend on Healthfirst for their medical care.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Weill Cornell Medical Center Ends Contract with Healthfirst
Additional Resources
- Gothamist: Healthfirst and NewYork-Presbyterian End Contract Dispute
- Wikipedia: New York-Presbyterian Hospital
- Crain’s New York: New York-Presbyterian Healthfirst Reach New Contract
- Google Search: healthcare contract dispute
- Harlem World: Harlem Rep Espaillat on Agreement
- Google Scholar: healthfirst new york presbyterian
- New York Post: Anthem Blue Cross Refusing to Help NYC
- Encyclopedia Britannica: healthcare
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