Blue Cross has created this mess

The current dispute between Blue Cross and Condell has become Lake County's own version of "SiCKO."

The residents of Lake County deserve access to high quality health care.

That is what Condell Hospital is seeking to provide.

Unfortunately, Blue Cross's reimbursements to the hospital have fallen below what it costs for the hospital to provide care to patients.

Blue Cross has reaped high profits while not paying enough on patient care. Blue Cross's cancellation of the individual and group contracts of physicians that work at Condell is nothing but a strong-arm tactic in an attempt to pit the doctors against the hospital in their negotiation (or non-negotiation as it may be).

This has only hurt patients by suddenly having to find a new doctor, or travel farther for in-network services. I urge Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois to get past this impasse and come to a workable contract for its member's sake.

This is what is best for its members in Lake County.

Let us doctors in Lake County get back to taking care of patients.

Jason Hallock

Vice-Chairman

Department

of Emergency Medicine

Condell Hospital

Libertyville