Condell patients now will get the bill, not Blue Cross

With contract negotiations stalled, Condell Medical Center announced a change Thursday that will affect thousands of Blue Cross Blue Shield patients.

Beginning Monday, the Libertyville-based hospital will bill those patients directly, meaning they will be responsible for filing claims with the insurance company.

"Condell Medical Center deeply regrets that the situation has gotten to this point," said Jodi Levine, vice president of business development for the hospital. "Patients will be responsible for the total bill, including any portion of the bill that Blue Cross does not pay."

The change affects Blue Cross PPO patients and about 11,000 Blue Cross HMO members. The number of PPO members cannot be quantified, but Levine estimates it is tens of thousands.

Levine said she doesn't know of any other instance in which a hospital bills patients directly.

Meanwhile, Blue Cross Blue Shield filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court to stop Condell from terminating its contract with the company.

"We want to make sure Condell meets its obligations," said Tony Rau, spokesman for Blue Cross Blue Shield. "It has become obvious we need to do this to protect our members."

The sides have been involved in bitter contract talks since the end of 2006.

Levine was unaware of the motion Thursday. But she said when Blue Cross Blue Shield stopped paying Condell in June, the contract was breached, therefore termination is possible.

Levine said Condell is owed millions of dollars for medical care given to its clients.

Rau called Levine's explanation "baloney."

Rau acknowledged Blue Cross Blue Shield has not made payments since June but said that's because Condell owes the company millions of dollars.

"The contract does not allow them to cut off cash payments to us," Levine said. "And they have never responded to our request for detailed accounting of exactly what we owe."

Rau said he hopes an agreement can be worked out.

Condell also said it is committed to resolving the contract dispute. Updates regarding the situation, along with a list of health plans Condell Medical Center accepts, are available at www.keepcondell.org.