Children's, Blue Cross reach deal for 30 days while working on contract, patients receive notification to seek non emergency care elsewhere if new contract is not negotiated for HMO coverage

 

Blue Cross and the hospital sent letters out to patients this month informing them they would have to seek nonemergency hospital care elsewhere if a new contract wasn't reached.

The Madera County hospital -- the only children's hospital between the Bay Area and Los Angeles -- mailed 5,000 letters June 22 to families.

Officials with Children's Hospital Central California and Blue Cross of California agreed to a 30-day contract extension Friday that allows the hospital to continue treating thousands of poor children covered by the HMO while the two sides try to work out a long-term agreement.

FresnoBee.com: Business: Children's, Blue Cross reach deal