North Carolina treasurer: State health plan members will have in-network coverage at major hospitals

North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell has revealed a new combined network that will ensure members of the state's health plan have in-network coverage at major hospital systems for 2020, according to The Charlotte Observer.

Mr. Folwell said Aug. 8 that in-network coverage will be available to the State Health Plan's more than 727,000 members at hospitals that have agreements with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, which administers the state's health plan. However, in-network coverage will also be available for members at providers who decide to stick with a government-pricing model instead of a commercial model.

The combined network will begin Jan. 1 and be offered to the state's health plan members in the fall.

News of the combined network comes as Mr. Folwell has been pushing for the government-pricing model instead of a commercial model.

He has touted the potential cost savings involved for the plan under a government-pricing model.

But he faced pushback from hospitals over lower reimbursement rates. North Carolina Healthcare Association launched a campaign calling on state lawmakers to block Mr. Folwell's plan. An administrator from Greensboro, N.C.-based Cone Health also made news last year for sending an email to the State Health Plan's board that read, "Burn in hell, you sorry SOBs."

The State Health Plan provides coverage to North Carolina teachers, current and former lawmakers, state university and community college personnel, active and retired state employees, and their dependents.

Read more about the state health plan's network for 2020 here

 

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