Hospital-insurer impasse now 14 months old

KINGSTON, N.Y. » The impasse that has prevented Empire BlueCross BlueShield members from getting inpatient treatment at HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley’s hospitals in Kingston has lasted for almost 14 months, and there’s no sign of an immediate resolution.

The last contract between the insurer and hospital company expired May 31, 2016, and the matter has been in court for much of the period since then.

The next scheduled proceeding the case is an Aug. 23 conference in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, according to court records. State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston, said Friday that the two sides also have agreed to mediation, though there was no indication of when that process might begin or how long it might take.

“Hopefully it will not be long before our community can once again use the services of the hospitals that have served us well for over 100 years,” Cahill said in a press release.

The lack of a contract means Empire customers, including Ulster County government employees and their families, are not covered for inpatient services and planned medical procedures at HealthAlliance’s Broadway and Mary’s Avenue campuses in Midtown Kingston. Emergency room treatment remains covered.

County Executive Michael Hein said in February that he might seek to change the health insurance provider for county employees if an agreement couldn’t be reached soon. No such change has been made yet, and Hein could not be reached for comment Friday.

“I have been deeply disappointed by the fact that our residents have been caught in the middle and have been greatly disadvantaged by the parties’ failure to come to a solution in a timely manner,” Hein said in February. “No one can argue against the importance of quality health care coupled with affordable insurance coverage, which is why the time for action has come.”

HealthAlliance, which last year became part of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, has declined to comment on the BlueCross BlueShild matter, citing the fact that it is in litigation.