Long Island, NY - June 22, 2018 - Assemblywoman Melissa Miller (R,C,Ref-Atlantic Beach) was proud to join South Nassau Communities Hospital’s (SNCH) rally to fight Empire BlueCross BlueShield for fair reimbursement rates and to keep SNCH within the Empire BlueCross BlueShield network. The rally was held on hospital grounds on Thursday, June 21. Currently, SNCH is in the middle of contract discussions with Empire BlueCross BlueShield, which have gone on for much longer than expected and could affect members ‘ability to receive non-emergency care coverage at SNCH starting July 1.
“Healthcare companies should be focused on the health and care of their members, not their bank accounts,” said Miller. “Empire BlueCross BlueShield needs to stop putting profits before people. This is our community, we need this hospital and the ancillary services they provide throughout this entire area for our families, and Empire BlueCross BlueShield doesn’t have the right to take them away. I will continue to fight alongside my fellow legislators and Long Islanders until this company provides the same reimbursement rates and coverage that it does to other hospitals in the area.”
Last year, Anthem, Inc., the owner of Empire BlueCross BlueShield, reported a profit of $3.4 billion, which is a 55 percent increase from 2016. The company also received a $1 billion credit in corporate tax relief under President Trump’s tax reform. Compared to SNCH, other hospitals in Nassau County receive up to 40 percent more in coverage from Empire BlueCross BlueShield for the same medical conditions and procedures. For the past few years, SNCH has lost $11 million in revenue from Medicare cuts.