Michigan Medicine and Blue Cross negotiations cause stress for thousands of patients

DETROIT, MICH. (WOWO) Patients who rely on both Blue Cross Blue Shield and Michigan Medicine say ongoing contract negotiations are causing stress and anxiety, as a July 1 deadline approaches for the two organizations to reach a new agreement.

Patients report stress and financial concerns
Alaina Sullivan, a 45-year-old Oxford resident with several heart conditions, receives treatment at Michigan Medicine and depends on Blue Cross Blue Shield to cover her care. Sullivan said she recently received an email from Blue Cross encouraging her to transfer care out of Michigan Medicine.

“When I finally found this doctor who would treat the vasospasms, one of the first things she said to me when I finally found her was, ‘Don’t worry. I’m going to help you get your life back.’ And she’s still working on that,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan also highlighted the financial risk if she loses in-network coverage. “I do know the angiogram last year cost about $45,000,” she said.

Wendy Dwyer of Livonia, who also has a chronic heart condition, travels to Ann Arbor for care at Michigan Medicine. She said she could not find equivalent in-state care elsewhere.

“Who wants to go to the hospital and find out oh, it wasn’t covered,” Dwyer said.
“Like, I Google searched ‘Long QT’ and ‘The best doctors in Michigan for Long QT,’ and they’re all out of Michigan Medicine,” she added.

Blue Cross Blue Shield seeks resolution
A spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Andy Hetzel, said the company is actively working with Michigan Medicine to reach an agreement.

“Blue Cross is working very hard with our colleagues at Michigan Medicine to come to an agreement,” Hetzel said.

Blue Cross Blue Shield said it would continue providing coverage to more than 40,000 Michigan Medicine patients with certain qualifying conditions for 90 days after July 1, 2026. Qualifying conditions may include:

• Pregnancy
• Cancer
• Transplant surgery
• Terminal illness
• Serious acute or chronic conditions

Michigan Medicine responds to outreach
Michigan Medicine spokesperson Dr. Scott Flanders issued a statement regarding Blue Cross’s outreach to patients:

“In response to Blue Cross’s unilateral outreach to members today, we want to be clear that there is no change to patient care or coverage today,” Flanders said.

Next steps
Negotiations between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Michigan Medicine will continue ahead of the July 1 deadline. Patients are advised to monitor communications from both organizations to understand how any potential changes could affect their coverage.

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