The letter “Medical care is facing a crisis” (Our Readers’ Views, March 1) sounds the alarm for those on Medicare Advantage who have signed up with Regence and fear losing their Legacy medical providers due to a contract dispute.
Good news. You do not need to lose your provider. But you must act quickly before March 31. Under these circumstances you should be able to change to another Medicare Advantage plan that is stable and contracted with Legacy. No need to find another provider.
This could happen with other Medicare Advantage plans if they are not paying their claims or adding excessive loopholes to avoid paying, which drives up administrative costs. The contract means nothing if the medical providers have to battle every day to get care authorized or fight delays in processing claims.
I just retired from my career fighting to get these Medicare Advantage plans to pay. I warned them that when I was no longer held to confidentiality, I would advocate for patients and providers. As an example, in my last health care management job in another state, we had to have three times the man hours to deal with Humana than billing traditional Medicare.
Use your rights and select a new Medicare Advantage plan.
