If you have ever had a trip the Emergency Room for anything then you know the claims filing business can be a frustrating process.  Some charges are not covered, some bills keep getting invoiced even after their paid, etc. etc.  It appears that thousands of BCBS policyholders will not longer be able obtain care from Lexington Medical Center.   WIS-TV reports:

“LEXINGTON, SC (WIS) –

Families across the Midlands may soon have to find new a new doctor after a contract breakdown between a major insurance company and a local hospital system.

Starting March 1, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina will no longer cover care from Lexington Medical Center or its affiliates as in-network, according to a letter the insurance company sent to its customers.

The insurance company claims Lexington Medical Center is demanding excessive fee increases.

The letter also states Blue Cross and Lexington have been in negotiations for months, but have not been able to come to an agreement over the fees.

Patients who are covered under Blue Cross Blue Shield would now have to pay higher out-of-network fees to go to the same LMC doctors or practices that they have been to in the past.

We have reached out to Lexington Medical Center for comment and will continue to update this story.”

We will be watching this story in the days ahead as March 1st approaches.  We hope that LMC and BCBS can reach an agreement to avoid what will undoubtedly lead to billing issues for many policyholders.