The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) announces the extension of the public comment period for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBS) material modification application submitted to the department on September 25, 2008. The current comment period ends October 17, 2008. The public comment period will be extended for at least 14 days. A second legal notice will be placed in the Providence Journal next week and will specify the date for the end of the extended public comment period.
Written public comments on this application can be sent to Fernanda M.A. da Costa, Chief, Office of Managed Care Regulation, RI Department of Health, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908. The application is available on the HEALTH’s website at www.health.ri.gov or at HEALTH in the Cannon Building, 3 Capitol Hill, room 410, weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
BCBS is seeking approval from HEALTH, should it become necessary, to change its provider network that includes hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers affiliated with Care New England Health System. This request from BCBS, if approved and implemented, would only take effect January 1, 2009 if BCBS and Care New England Health System are not able to reach agreement on a new contract. Care New England Health System providers would then be considered out-of-network providers and would change how BCBS pays for enrolled subscriber’s healthcare services at those facilities. Subscribers can still obtain services from Care New England Health System, but providers would be considered “out-of-network”. This will impact subscribers differently depending on their plan. The three Care New England Health System hospitals that would be affected are: Kent Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital and Butler Hospital. The request would also affect certain physician services and other healthcare services provided by Care New England Health System.