BCBS Contracts With Three Oklahoma Hospitals Expire

Some Oklahomans who get their insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield, including those who are on Obamacare, may have to find a new hospital or a new doctor.

BCBS has confirmed the contracts between BCBS and hospitals in Prague, Fairfax and Stigler expired July 1. According to the insurer after October 29 members will no longer pay in-network rates at Fairfax Community Hospital, Haskell County Community Hospital and Prague Community Hospital.

In Prague, between the ER, the hospital, and the clinic they serve thousands of patients in the area. Mary Ann Ward has been a P.A. at Prague Community Hospital for nine years now. She grew up in the area, she's passionate about her patients and also worried about them.

“Here’s the thing, a lot of these patients here are older patients. They live in the rural areas,” she explained. “These patients, it’s hard for them to get places. A lot of them, it’s hard for them to go to the city.”

The hospital's CEO Randy Simmons said BCBS wanted to drastically cut their payments so they weren't able to agree to a contract. Without a deal, after October 29, BCBS members will either have to go somewhere else, pay more or switch insurance carriers. He says that won't only be bad for the patients, but the hospital too.

“Ultimately if we can’t negotiate this some of the impact could be loss of staff and ultimately loss of a provider or more.”

In a letter to patients, Blue Cross Blue Shield said members still have access to five hospitals in the surrounding area.  The closest one according to our calculations is in Seminole 22 minutes away.

“In an emergent situation that could mean life or death,” said Simmons.

Simmons, however, is still optimistic they can negotiate a deal with BCBS.

Mary Ann sure hopes so, not only for her patients. She's a BCBS member too.

“If it’s a test that’s going to be expensive, then yes. I’ll have to go elsewhere.”

Here’s a list of closest hospitals: