Concerned citizens from northern Rhode Island towns around Woonsocket, R.I., have banded together in support of Boston-based Steward Health Care's acquisition of Woonsocket-based Landmark Medical Center by collecting 6,100 signatures, according to a Valley Breeze report.
City Council member Roger Jalette led the local effort to show support for the merger, requesting the negotiation of fair reimbursement rates in a petition and delivering a call to arms to community members, according to the report. According to the report, the petition will be sent to the Rhode Island Governor, all the state's congressional candidates, officials at BCBS, the state Department of Health, the Attorney General's office and Steward.
The Landmark Medical and Steward Health deal has faced many roadblocks and barriers since Steward signed an agreement to acquire Landmark in June 2011. After delays with the merger application and other snags, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin approved the sale in May, but due to a contract dispute with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, the deal has yet to close.
Supporters of the deal received good news earlier this week when BCBSRI and Landmark reached a memorandum of understanding to extend their insurance contract. This agreement will renew that contract until 90 days after Steward Health completes its acquisition of Landmark or until Dec. 31 — whichever date arrives first. Steward has received numerous extensions on its closing date, most recently a 60-day extension. The current deadline for Steward to complete the purchase is Sept. 30.
According to the report, a spokesperson for BCBS emphasized that the recent memorandum of understanding is with Landmark and not Steward.
Now that Landmark and BCBSRI have reached an agreement, the community wants the deal to close. "We, the undersigned, condemn any effort by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island to undermine any effort by any company to purchase Landmark Medical hospital," Mr. Jalette's petition reads, according to the report. "We also demand that Landmark Medical hospital or any purchaser be treated equal to any other hospital in Rhode Island pursuant to payment for services rendered using a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island medical card."
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City Council member Roger Jalette led the local effort to show support for the merger, requesting the negotiation of fair reimbursement rates in a petition and delivering a call to arms to community members, according to the report. According to the report, the petition will be sent to the Rhode Island Governor, all the state's congressional candidates, officials at BCBS, the state Department of Health, the Attorney General's office and Steward.
The Landmark Medical and Steward Health deal has faced many roadblocks and barriers since Steward signed an agreement to acquire Landmark in June 2011. After delays with the merger application and other snags, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin approved the sale in May, but due to a contract dispute with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, the deal has yet to close.
Supporters of the deal received good news earlier this week when BCBSRI and Landmark reached a memorandum of understanding to extend their insurance contract. This agreement will renew that contract until 90 days after Steward Health completes its acquisition of Landmark or until Dec. 31 — whichever date arrives first. Steward has received numerous extensions on its closing date, most recently a 60-day extension. The current deadline for Steward to complete the purchase is Sept. 30.
According to the report, a spokesperson for BCBS emphasized that the recent memorandum of understanding is with Landmark and not Steward.
Now that Landmark and BCBSRI have reached an agreement, the community wants the deal to close. "We, the undersigned, condemn any effort by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island to undermine any effort by any company to purchase Landmark Medical hospital," Mr. Jalette's petition reads, according to the report. "We also demand that Landmark Medical hospital or any purchaser be treated equal to any other hospital in Rhode Island pursuant to payment for services rendered using a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island medical card."
More Articles on Landmark Medical, Steward Health Care Deal:
Landmark Medical Center, Blue Cross of Rhode Island Reach Contract AgreementSteward Health Care Receives Extension on Landmark Deal Deadline Again
Judge Lifts Hold on Landmark Medical Center's Suit Against Blue Cross of Rhode Island