Updated 6/18/2024

We have an important update from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. As an employer dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare options, we want to ensure that you are fully informed about these changes and how they may affect you.

Key Updates:

CHI Memorial Network P Agreement:

• June 14 Network P Announcement: You may have read that BCBST and CHI Memorial have agreed to terms on a contract for Network P.  While this is true, it is important to note that McKee Foods uses Network S, so this agreement does not change CHI’s participation status in Network S.
• How this impacts McKee Foods Health Plan members: As of July 1, 2024, CHI Memorial will continue to be out-of-network for Network S. All insurance plans that McKee Foods Health Plan offers are Network S.  
• Extension of coverage for McKee Foods Health Plan members:  McKee Foods has negotiated an extension for our members to be seen at in-network rate through Dec. 31, 2024. This will allow our members a longer lead time to find new providers and allow the benefits team to evaluate options for our members to retain access to CHI.

Support and Information:
For more details on these changes or for assistance, please contact the Benefits Department at Ext. 22865 or [email protected]. You can also contact BlueCross BlueShield customer service at 1 (800) 565-9140. 

We understand that changes in healthcare coverage can be challenging, and we are here to support you through this transition. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are committed to ensuring you continue to receive the best possible care.

Mix Article: Home | MIX (onfirstup.com)

Update 6/12/2024

As more information is released from CHI to our health plan members, we would like to address some statements within their latest communication.

• It is true that as of July 1, 2024, CHI will no longer be in Network S. However, McKee Foods has negotiated with CHI to honor current in-network rates for McKee Foods Health Plan members through Dec. 31, 2024. This includes their hospitals, Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) and specialists (including the Heart Institute, Oncology and Breast Care Centers).
• To start, we feel that a baseline understanding of the type of health plan McKee Foods offers is necessary to comprehend the impact these negotiations have on you and our health plan. They not only disrupt the access to hospitals and providers, but they financially affect them as well.  
  McKee Foods is a self-funded health plan. This means that McKee Foods, and you, pay all claims for you and your covered family out of what you contribute each week in premiums, what is applied to your deductible and out-of-pocket (OOP) amounts, plus company profits. The four insurance products offered through the health plan all use network S through BCBST (this will be important for later).
• CHI was requesting an 18% increase in what you and McKee Foods would pay for services from CHI Memorial Hospital and its affiliates. This would equate to adding millions to our health plan spend, which in turn causes increases to premiums, deductibles, OOPs and reduces profits to share.
  
  You may have read in the media that BCBST can cover the requested increases with their reserves. The “reserves” that CHI mentions that BCBST currently has ($3-$4 billion) would not help you or McKee Foods with the cost increases (18%). Those reserves are held for their commercial line of business, which if McKee Foods switched to that type of plan, would cost McKee Foods and its plan members more than the 18% CHI was requesting for Network S participation.
• CHI was also requesting to remove all prior authorizations (PA) for any service performed at their facilities. PAs are in place to protect you and health plan spend.
  
  The PA process involves your healthcare provider submitting documentation to determine the medical necessity of the service/test they wish to provide you. By having PAs in place, this protects health plan members by shielding them from costly or unnecessary tests or services, or helps them find a more cost effective treatment or service. If all PAs were removed, this would mean that anything your physician wants to do would not be questioned or reviewed, resulting in higher than the proposed 18% increase to health plan spend for you and McKee Foods.
• We have heard that CHI is encouraging their patients to ask their employer to consider changing health plan carriers from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) to another carrier within their network. For McKee Foods, this is not a decision that can be taken lightly. There are many factors to consider. For example, how would the change impact our whole employee population, not just those in Tennessee? What are the negotiated rates for services with other carriers? Would McKee Foods health plan members be paying more for the same services they were receiving within Network S with BCBST? This type of evaluation or change can take a year or more to research and implement, if it was deemed favorable for our health plan members.
• Another option CHI has offered is a dual-insurance option. McKee Foods currently does not offer a dual plan option. We only participate with Network S. However, by negotiating with CHI to cover our health plan members until Dec. 31, 2024, this gives BCBST and CHI time to hopefully come to some resolution over Network P. Then McKee Foods can evaluate the possibility of adding another health plan option for employees as of Jan. 1, 2025.

McKee Foods recognizes the impact inflation has had on all employees and employers and agrees that CHI and its affiliates deserve a fair reimbursement for their services, but we cannot in good conscience agree to an 18% increase in cost of services and allow any healthcare provider to perform any test or service without any oversight. After learning more on the negotiations between BCBST and CHI, McKee Foods supports BCBST’s decision to remove CHI from Network S and replace them with Parkridge. With this being said, we will continue to monitor the negotiations between BCBST and CHI for Network P to determine if it is possible for McKee Foods to offer our health plan members this option.

As more information comes available, we will post on MIX and the Benefits Portal. See the BCBST/CHI page on the benefits portal for more information. If you have any questions, you can contact the Benefits Department at Ext. 22865 or [email protected].

Update as of 6/10/2024

Health Plan Administrators, like BCBST, andhealth systems, like CHI, renegotiate their contracts every two to three years.The outcomes of these negotiations determine whether a health system will stayor leave a network, or if they even continue to be a part of a health planadministrator’s network at all.

The negotiations include both parties coming toan agreement on fees for services and many other factors. These include BCBSTdetermining if the health system has an adequate scope of services availablefor members, whether they provide high quality of care for patients, if theyare staying on top of innovation and technology in the health space, how theyrank on patient experience, whether they provide any unique services, in addition, facility tours.

After reviewing the proposals from CHI and HCAParkridge, BCBST ultimately felt that Parkridge’s plans for expansion in theChattanooga market, commitment to BCBST and their employer groups to help drivequality, affordable healthcare, and additional maternity and behavioral healthcapacity proved to be the most compelling case to award the business to them.Additionally, Parkridge did an outstanding job highlighting their quality ofcare as evidenced in the numerous awards and designations below, to name a few: 

·     The Joint Commission National Quality Approval

·     2021 Healthgrades Excellence Award for General Surgery

·     2022 Healthgrades Excellence Award for Gastrointestinal Care

·     2022 Healthgrades Excellence Award for Critical Care

·     2022 Healthgrades America’s 250 Best Hospitals

·     The Joint Commission and American Heart Association Certificationas a Primary Heart Attack Center

·     Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee/Hip

·     Blue Distinction Center for Spine

·     Fortune/PINC AI Top 100 Community Hospital

·     Fortune/PINC AI Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital

BCBST believes, as well as McKee Foods, thatHCA Parkridge complements our other health system partner in Network S,Erlanger Health System, by delivering high-quality care our members deserve atprices they can afford.

For more information, see the BCBST/CHI page on the benefitsportal . If you have any questions, you can contact the Benefitsdepartment at Ext. 22865 or [email protected] .

Update as of 6/3/2024

As a member of the McKee Foods Health Plan, we want you to be aware of the changes occurring to your medical plan. Effective Monday, July 1, 2024, CHI Memorial Hospitals, Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and Specialists will no longer be in Network S. McKee Foods has negotiated with CHI Memorial to honor current in-network rates for McKee Foods Health Plan members through Dec. 31, 2024. This includes CHI Memorial Hospitals, PCP’s and Specialists (including the Heart Institute, Oncology and Breast Care Centers). This extension allows McKee Foods to evaluate options and give you more time to consider transitioning your care to Parkridge, Erlanger or utilizing the McKee Foods Family Health Center for your primary care needs.

Update as of 5/8/2024

On Tuesday May 7, 2024, McKee Foods was notified by BCBST that CHI Memorial Hospitals will no longer be participating in Network S as of July 1, 2024.  CHI hospital will be replaced by Parkridge.  To learn more about the timeline of this decision by BCBST please  Click Here.

As of right now we are unsure ifCHI Memorial’s Primary Care Physicians and Specialists will remain in NetworkS.  This being said, the lowest risk option that we recommend is to find aPrimary Care Provider or Specialist that not part of CHI Memorial.  AfterJuly 1^, 2024, if you were to see a CHI Memorial Primary CarePhysician or Specialist, they could bill you as an out of network charge. We have confirmed with BCBST that they will continue to pay in-networkrates for CHI Primary Care and Specialist visits but there is the chance thatCHI could bill you for the difference of the out of network, and in networkrate.  This practice is called balance billing.

Other options that we recommend at this time are outlined below:  

- If currently receiving treatment from a CHI Hospital, reach out to BCBST for Continuation of Care Information. 

- We strongly recommend talk to your CHI Primary Care Provider.  Ask if they will be filing as in-network and ask about balance billing.

- Find a new doctor after June 30, 2024. Use the BCBST tool here.

- Utilize our McKee Foods Family Health center for primary needs.

Please reach out with any questions to our Benefits Team or directly to BCBST. We’re here to make sure you feel supported every step of the way.

BCBST Member Services (also found on the back of your ID card): 1-800-565-9140

McKee Foods Benefits Department:

Phone:(423) 238-7111 Ext. 22865

Email:  [email protected]