But three BMI hospitals still out of insurer’s network
A major dispute between Britain’s largest private medical insurance (PMI) provider and private hospital group was resolved after the parties signed a three year agreement aimed at providing long-term stability for patients.
A contract has been signed by Bupa and BMI Healthcare which means the former’s members will be able to access private healthcare across the majority of BMI Healthcare’s 70-strong hospital network.
The high profile dispute between the two organisations, which included disagreement over the fees being charged by BMI Healthcare for treating Bupa members, began towards the end of 2011.
John Von Klemperer, managing director, hospital operations, BMI Healthcare, said the agreement marks “the beginning of a stronger working relationship” between the two organisations which would benefit the independent healthcare sector as a whole.
However, three hospitals – BMI Gisburne Park Hospital, BMI The Lancaster Hospital and BMI The Castle Consulting Suite – remain out of network.
Dr Natalie-Jane Macdonald, managing director of Bupa Health and Wellbeing, said the new arrangement, which means that BMI hospitals are now included in Bupa’s Extended Choice, Partnership and Participating Hospital Networks, will improve the way in which the two organisations work together in the future.
“We believe that the new arrangements provide a good basis to address the affordability of private healthcare while maintaining current standards of high quality care for Bupa members,” she said.
Source: HIMAG 19/01/12
