Speak out, stat: In Blue Cross and hospital standoff, the time for leadership is now

There are only a couple days left until the deadline for an agreement between Wayne Memorial Hospital and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina passes.

It has not been an easy road to get to this point. There have been plenty of accusations made and points refuted as the two try to reach an agreement that will allow those who carry Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage to receive treatment at their local hospital.

And although they protest otherwise, to those involved, it might be primarily a numbers game -- all about budgets, percentages and who will pay what.

But to the thousands of Wayne County residents who will be forced to go to out-of-town hospitals for care -- or to pay a higher out-of-pocket cost -- or those who will find that they must change doctors because their insurance no longer covers their trusted physician, this is about more than dollars and cents.

And while we have already preached that this is a compromise this community cannot afford not to reach, it is time for more than the newspaper to speak up -- loudly.

So, although the deadline looms, those who have been charged with leading this city, county and state should have their ears pricked and be prepared to do more than pass resolutions if this negotiation becomes an impasse once again.

Those who are local leaders -- the mayor, the city and county managers, the county commissioners, leaders of all local town boards, town councils and boards of aldermen -- need to be in direct communication not only with the hospital board, but with Blue Cross and Blue Shield as well.

They need to make sure those in charge at both businesses are aware that the whole community and its leadership are watching carefully.

They need to advocate for their community hospital when necessary, but also be willing to remind the hospital leadership and its board that a compromise that does not give away the farm, but that protects the community's health care options, is critical here.

And those who are charged with making decisions for this community at the state level -- state Sens. Louis Pate and Don Davis and state Reps. Jimmy Dixon, Larry Bell and John Bell -- should be prepared to push for some kind of relief if the county is forced into a situation where thousands who work here are unable to travel down the road to their hospital to receive care.

They should be prepared to push for the North Carolina State Health Plan to consider its relationship with its third-party administrator and what other options might be available.

And they must offer their perspective to the hospital board as well -- and attempt to take an active role in bringing about a compromise that protects this community.

If the two sides are truly at a stalemate, that does not mean that the negotiations have to be over -- a temporary agreement, with both sides compromising, that extends into 2014 might take the pressure off, and allow for a mediator or a third-party of some kind to help broker a deal.

We understand the looming monster of Obamacare has more than a few businesses and health care organizations on edge. But we can't afford to wait to see what happens.

Yes, it is that important that this be resolved.

And those in charge -- and those who will be hurt by the changes -- should be not only paying attention, but making their voices heard -- loudly and often.

Published in Editorials on November 30, 2013 11:08 PM