Page 8 - CSEA Retiree News Summer 2019

Westchester Medical
Center reaches agreement
with Empire Blue Cross
Empire Blue Cross and Westchester Medical Center Health Network have reached a contract agreement
that retroactively reinstates the network status of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network to June 1, 2019 (no interruption in participation). The Westchester Medical Center Health Network consists of the following facilities:
• Westchester Medical Center
• Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital
• Bon Secours – St. Anthony’s Hospital
• Bon Secours – Mercy Community Hospital • Bon Secours – Good Samaritan Hospital
Empire Plan claims for services received at these facilities on or after June 1, 2019 will be processed as in-network and will be subject to in-network co-payments, if applicable. It may take approximately two weeks to update files and process claims.
This was a tough negotiation and both sides stood firm on their principles. We are grateful that it is resolved and our membership continues to have access to these facilities as participating hospitals.
Should members have any questions, they can outreach to the Empire Plan at 1-877-769-7447 and select option 2 for the Hospital Program.
Security Incidents Involving Quest Diagnostics
Qand LabCorp
uest and LabCorp recently reported
two separate privacy incidents involving their collections vendor, American Medical Collection Agency (AMCA).
AMCA, a third-party vendor
used for patient debt collection,
may have been the victim of
a malware attack, resulting in
exposure of certain personal information. This information is reported to include Social Security numbers and financial data, such as credit card information. Laboratory test results were not provided to AMCA.
This issue is limited to only those Quest and LabCorp patients who had a past due balance for lab services that were sent
to AMCA for collection where the security incident occurred.
Quest and LabCorp have stated they are working closely with AMCA to determine the facts and understand which
health plan members are affected.
Although these two incidents did not directly involve NYSHIP, we
will continue to seek updates as additional information becomes available.
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Empire BlueCross BlueShield HMO Hearing Services Vendor Change
Effective June 7, 2019, Empire BlueCross HMO (NYSHIP options 280, 290 and 320) has changed their hearing services vendor from HearUSA to Hearing Care Solutions for its Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees.
Empire BlueCross HMO enrollees in need of covered hearing services should contact the dedicated Hearing Care Solutions call center at (855) 312-2545 (TTY 711), or visit their website at hearingcaresolutions.com
to find nearby participating providers or inquire about services.
Empire BlueCross HMO will soon mail letters about the new vendor to covered Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees. Questions regarding this change may be directed to the BlueCross HMO Member Services telephone number located on the back of the enrollee’s ID card.
etiree NEWS is published to share information and generate
ideas on subjects important to retirees.
Published by CSEA
143 Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12210
(518) 257-1000
(800) 342-4146 cseany.org
Danny Donohue, President
CSEA
Local 1000 AFSCME AFL-CIO
R