We recently announced that CIGNA Health notified us during contract renewal discussions that it intended to terminate our contract and exclude Froedtert Hospital and Community Memorial Hospital from its provider network as of May 1, 2008.
We have continued to try to negotiate a fair and reasonable contract with CIGNA for many months and are still open to negotiating a contract for the future. We regret to inform you that our efforts have met with the failure to secure a new contract. As of today both hospitals are out of network for our patients with CIGNA insurance.
It is important to note that some plans will cover care from a non-network provider at 100 percent after an annual out-of-pocket maximum is met. If your health insurance is provided by your employer, we strongly encourage you to contact your benefits manager to find out how this change affects your coverage. If your insurance is through another source, please contact your agent to review your personal coverage.
Because of our concern for your continued care, Froedtert & Community Health has engaged an advocacy company by the name of Patient Care to assist our patients covered under CIGNA insurance with any questions or issues that you might have about the termination of the network contract. Advocates will answer questions and assist patients with any network or coverage issues that you may have and can help to transition your care to another provider, if you choose to do so. You may contact an advocate by calling 877-548-7714. The phone line is staffed weekdays from 9 am until 6 pm.
This contract termination does not include the physicians serving as the medical staff for both hospitals. Advanced Healthcare, Medical Associates, and Medical College physicians remain in-network providers as does the Froedtert Surgery Center and Menomonee Falls Ambulatory Surgery Center. Only services billed by the hospitals are now out of network due to this change. If you are in the process of completing a treatment plan, you may petition CIGNA to continue your course of treatment at Froedtert or Community Memorial. You can print and complete a Continuity of Care form that will need to be completed and submitted to CIGNA at the address on the form for you to continue treatment at in-network rates. The advocates listed above can assist you with completion of this form and the petitioning process.
Over the next 60 days, we also will work closely with each patient to address the financial impact of the situation. Froedtert Hospital and Community Memorial have in-network arrangements with more than 60 other insurance providers for all hospital services. A list of other providers is enclosed.
We are deeply troubled by the termination and the consequences for all of our patients. Froedtert & Community Health has worked closely with CIGNA for many years. Unfortunately, it appears that this contract was terminated to influence negotiations on a separate CIGNA contract with Froedtert Hospital.
Your health and the continuity of your care are important to us. We're so sorry about this situation, and we'll do everything we can to help you through it.
Michael Unger, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Community Memorial Hospital
Andrew Norton, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Froedtert Hospital