Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) held an open house on Tuesday, September 17, to update the public on their ongoing contract talks with Florida Blue.
"Today is a great opportunity for our patients, our neighbors, our community to come here and find out what's really happening with our negotiations with Florida Blue that have been ongoing since this November of last year," said Jonathan Kling, the Chief Operating Officer at NCH.
The event hosted about 100 residents from Lee and Collier Counties, who asked questions to NCH leadership from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Telford Auditorium at NCH Downtown Baker Hospital.
"What do I do? I have to make a decision. Do I keep Blue Cross Blue Shield, or do I keep all my doctors? Those doctors have saved my husband's life twice. So, I'm. I'm torn. It's not fair," said Anna Myers, a Bonita Springs resident and Florida Blue customer.
NCH is working to secure fair reimbursement rates from Florida Blue to manage the rising costs of patient care and keep local services available for families in Southwest Florida.
"I feel like I'm in the middle of a divorce. I either keep the house or I keep the kids with no child support or alimony. I'm paying for both," added Myers.
The healthcare provider says it is reimbursed from 38%-48% less than other facilities in the region, despite having similar costs.
"This is the most disgusting thing I've seen in my 35 years in Collier County ... You will have people that will die from lack of ability to get into medical facilities," said Scott Lepore, a Collier County resident and Florida Blue Customer.
NCH Chief Performance Improvement Officer, Matthew Stacell, expressed the urgency of the situation.
“We’re trying to reach a fair agreement, but with the September 30 deadline coming up, time is running out,” Stacell said. “We want to protect our patients and make sure they get the care they need.”
NCH staff tells NBC2 that if a deal isn't met by October 1st, all patients (about 40,000 in Collier County) could be forced to pay out of pocket, or change healthcare providers.
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