1/31/05

Mendocino Coast District Hospital is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement on terms to renew its contract with Blue Shield of California.  The agreement includes a contract start date of March 1, 2005, and will be effective for two years. 

The original contract termination date of January 23, 2005 has been extended until March 1, 2005 when the new contract takes effect.  Subscribers to Blue Shield will therefore receive continual coverage for services sought at MCDH, with no gap in coverage as the contract is renewed.

“The terms of our agreement with Blue Shield are in our best interest as a small, rural hospital,” said Chief Financial Officer Jacob Lewis.  “They considered our unique setting and needs, and our agreement is supportive of the hospital’s mission and complementary to our financial recovery plan of the past five years,” he added.

The many calls and letters received by Blue Shield from concerned community members had a positive impact on the success of the negotiations, explained MCDH CEO Bryan Ballard.

“The high level of involvement and support from our community is definitely as asset for our hospital,” Ballard said, adding, “I want to thank our community for its willingness to express its concerns to Blue Shield.

“The successfully renewed contract with Blue Shield is a critical component of the hospital’s overall plan for long-term financial health, and helps to ensure that MCDH will be able to continue providing high quality health care in our community,” Ballard continued.  “Other strategies that have helped the hospital improve its financial health include reducing costs to become one of the lowest cost providers in the region, and recruiting new physicians to serve the diverse needs of our community.”

It’s business as usual at the hospital for participants in Blue Shield health plans, who can rest assured that the Blue Shield contract is being renewed for a two-year period.