I’ve been trying to get more information on the agreement reached between Premera and the Ballard Emergency Physicians (the contracted doctors for Swedish Medical Center – Ballard’s ER). I emailed Rayburn Lewis MD, Executive Director and Senior Medical Director of Swedish Ballard, and Eric Earling, PR representative for Premera. Rayburn Lewis MD stated:
According to the medical director of our emergency department, the contract takes effect tomorrow, August 1,2009…These contract negotiations have been pursued by Ballard Emergency Physicians for quite some time, and I am sure that input from consumers and Swedish as well as the persistence of the physician group was influential on the decision.
Dr. Lewis let me know that Premera was expected to make a formal announcement in their newsletter about the agreement. He also let me know that he could not speak for any of the other Swedish Medical Center facilities and physicians with regard to any agreements between them and Premera.
I contacted Eric Earling to get a press release for the new agreement. The only information I got was a confirmation that the agreement between Premera and the Ballard Emergency Physicians went into effect August 1, 2009. I’ve requested a copy of the official announcement when it is released.
On a personal note, I received my official denial of my second appeal from Premera a few days ago. It did note that there was not an agreement between the Ballard Emergency Physicians at the time of service or at the time that the letter was written. I called the representative for Premera and left a message to inquire if the new agreement should make a difference to my appeal.
What can I say, my curiosity into this system has been piqued, and I can’t help but delve deeper to understand how this crazy system works.
See previously under the Ballard Emergency Physicians tag.
Tags: ballard, ballard emergency physicians, health care, medical, seattle, swedish medical center, washington state