BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) – A big change in healthcare will have an effect on hundreds of Western New Yorkers.
Dozens of Buffalo Medical Group suppliers will likely be out of community for Medicare sufferers who use Highmark Blue Cross Blue Defend.
Dr. John Notaro is a main care doctor and medical director of BMG. He defined what he needs sufferers to know in regards to the change.
“I would like you to know why now we have determined to not renew our relationship with Highmark subsequent 12 months and the reply to that query is that we wish to domesticate relationships with insurance coverage firms that help the investments we’re making for sufferers,” mentioned Physician Notaro.
Dr. Notaro mentioned BMG's pressing care middle in Williamsville is an instance of a type of investments.
“Our pressing care workplace is taken into account merely an extension of our main care workplace, so that they don’t have any alternative to invoice the insurance coverage firm,” Dr. Notaro mentioned. “The distinction now we have with Highmark is that they don't help these investments. Different insurance coverage firms do.”
Lots of Notaro's Medicare sufferers are on Highmark Blue Cross Blue Defend, however beginning July 1, he and 46 different main care docs with BMG will likely be out of community beneath the plan.
“Medicare beneficiaries have good freedom of motion, particularly throughout open enrollment season,” he mentioned. Physician Notaro. “There are different insurance coverage firms that now we have good relationships with that they’ll change.”
He suggested sufferers affected by the insurance coverage change to talk to an impartial dealer about their insurance coverage choices.
“For now now we have ended our negotiations with Highmark,” Dr. Notaro mentioned. “My pure inclination is to succeed in out to sufferers now and assist them discover good choices.”
Final month we spoke with Jim and Janice Horbowicz of Clarence, who mentioned they didn't need to must search for a brand new physician and wished Highmark and BMG had negotiated a deal to maintain everybody lined.
“I can change my well being plan or my physician. It's not a pleasant concept,” mentioned Janice, who has had the identical physician for 15 years.
'Anxiousness and stress': Buffalo Medical Group sufferers annoyed by future protection modifications