Some New Yorkers are in the middle of a medical standoff between Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and WellNow clinics.
WellNow sent letters to let patients know that they have not been able to reach an agreement with Excellus. So as of January 1, WellNow will be out of network for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield participants.
WellNow says Excellus has raised prices on members by 45% over the last few years and cut WellNow payments by 35%. WellNow has launched a media campaign to push back to try to reach a compromise, but Excellus says the campaign misrepresents the facts.
WellNow launched a website asking Excellus subscribers to act. The site will automatically contact Excellus and political officials on your behalf.
WellNow says it fills the gaps to avoid hours waiting in an emergency room or serving those living in health care deserts. WellNow says weighing cost over care can lead to serious health risks.
“That’s a decision you don’t want people to have to make themselves, their family, their children,” said WellNow Urgent Care Chief Medical Officer Robert Biernbaum. “And so the elected officials are very interested in this, because they know in regions like Syracuse where we are the urgent care, people either sometimes don't have primary care or they have an issue primary care can’t take care of, and they don’t want to go to an ER for six hours.”
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield sent lengthy letter, reminding that your primary care physician knows you best and should be your first call for care. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is a not-for-profit and WellNow is for profit.
WellNow-12.12 by Spectrum News
“We continue to engage in contract discussions with WellNow,” a Excellus BlueCross BlueShield statement read. “However, we cannot agree to well now unreasonable demands of a more than 60% rate increase.”
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield members can still go to WellNow. Biernbaum says they would have to pay out-of-pocket rates starting January 1.
Clarification: The negotiations are between Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, specifically. No other entities are impacted.