WPCNR MEDIC. Special to WPCNR. October 7, 2004: A special October 15 forum on the impact of the recent termination of Pinnacle Healthcare's member hospital contracts with United Healthcare on businesses and employees, due to United refusing to pay up to the level of hospital costs, will be held by the Westchester County Association at 8:30 A.M., October 15, in the auditorium of the Reckson Metro Center, 360 Hamilton Avenue. The Chief Executive Officers of the Pennacle Healthcare member hospitals will participate and are expected to detail how the withholding of health care coverage is affecting their ability to deliver and get paid by patients for hospital services.
Pinnacle Healthcare Inc., is a consortium of five Westchester area hospitals, Hudson Valley Hospital Center (Cortlandt Manor), The Mount Vernon Hospital, St. John’s Riverside Hospital (Yonkers), Sound Shore Medical Center of Westchester (New Rochelle) and Westchester Medical Center (Valhalla). The five hospitals terminated Pinnacle hospital contracts with United Healthcare effective September 25, 2004.
Thousands of members of United Healthcare who use a Pinnacle hospital are affected by the move.
Pinnacle, in a statement released September 24, said that it has been attempting to negotiate a new contract with United Healthcare for more than a year. However, the negotiations have proved unsuccessful.
“This is a very unfortunate situation that will affect not only our hospitals, but our patients and our physicians,” said Helen Turchioe, Pinnacle’s Executive Director.
“In order to maintain the high quality level of care that our patients deserve, we must be compensated fairly for the care that we provide.”
At the forum, CEOs of the five hospitals will discuss how members of United Health Care are dealing with their hospitals.
