KINGSTON – Westchester Medical Center and Blue Cross/Blue Shield have come to an agreement in principle when it comes to in-network coverage at the Health Alliance campus in Kingston, Ulster County Executive Michael Hein said late Monday.
That is good news and an important step in providing high-quality, local healthcare to the community, the county executive said, though, that it is “a travesty that two large companies allowed it to get to this situation.”
Hein said he wishes there will be a lesson learned from this.
“It is my great hope that they will use this opportunity to reflect on the damage that this has done to so many who rely on this facility for quality health care day in and day out,” the county exec said. “It is my great hope that as they move forward, that we will also use this as a moment of reflection to make sure quality healthcare comes ahead of corporate profits.”
After the contract between the hospital and insurance company expired over a year ago, persons in need of inpatient services had to go to a hospital outside Kingston. Emergency care was still covered.
Health Alliance officials could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
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