Regional health insurance company Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is on the defense after one of its largest primary healthcare partners in Central New York announced plans to sever ties at the end of 2024. Family Care Medical Group, PC (FCMG) sent letters to patients warning that it would be ending the relationship. Doctor Lisa Harris with Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield said patients still have five months to see their providers.
“There’s still time. We are very confident that we are going to come to an agreement with Family Care Medical Group,” Harris said noting that negotiations between BCBS and providers like FCMG typically start during the summer. They have told us that they fully intend to go forward with a new contract and certainly, if a member has a concern, they should call the number on the back of their card to get in touch with our customer service representative.”
In a statement, BCBS said FCMG’s decision to send its members notifications about the impasse was unfortunate and premature.
Doctor Mitchell Brodey, a partner at FCMG, said the practice has tried for several years to clear bureaucratic hurdles with BCBS. He said their frustration with the insurer is when it denies patients from receiving necessary and critical care.
“I make decisions about patients based upon my expertise and actually seeing and talking to the patient,” Brodey said. “When I make a decision as to what diagnostic modality to use, that’s my decision. To have it denied or deflected by an insurance company is not really appropriate and it happens with Excellus quite often.”
Brodey claims the decision to notify patients early was not a pressure stunt, but an effort to give FCMG’s clients enough time to notify employers and find other carriers.
Some Syracuse University employees are both covered by Excellus BCBS health insurance and patients FCMG.