Why isn’t Marshfield Clinic Health System renewing its contract with Dean Health Plan?
It is our Health System’s belief that the Dodge County region should have easy access to specialty care delivered in a timely manner where they choose to receive it. We’ve made a commitment to doing just that by bringing more than a dozen specialties into the community, including dermatology, cardiology, pulmonology, urology and more. Our presence will continue to grow, because our patients deserve to receive care from in-network specialty providers close to home. We have been in discussions with Dean Health Plan for several months on a renewal of our agreement. While both parties negotiated in good faith, we could not come to an agreement that we felt would allow us to meet the needs of our patients and the promises to our community.
When does the current contract expire?
The contract between Marshfield Clinic Health System and Dean Health Plan expires on Feb. 28, 2021. Even though our contract is expired, patients who currently have Dean Health Plan as their insurer can still see their Marshfield Clinic Health System provider under the Continuity of Care terms that allow plan members to finish their current care for a duration of time under the expired contract.
How does this impact our patients?
This decision means that Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam and its providers will no longer be in-network in the insurance plans offered by Dean Health Plan. This includes hospital-based services like testing and surgeries, as well as physician visits in the clinic setting.
How does this impact Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam providers?
Dean Health Plan’s insurance plans will consider Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam providers out-of-network. Patients can continue to see their providers, but may pay out-of-network rates, including hospital-based services like testing and surgeries, as well as physician visits in the clinic setting.
What makes Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam providers unique from other providers in our service area?
Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam offers a much wider breadth of services compared to any other provider system in Dodge County, and we continually look for ways to expand.
Can Dean Health Plan members continue to seek services even though the contract is expired?
Marshfield Clinic Health System welcomes any patient. Unfortunately, Dean Health Plan patients may have higher out-of-pocket costs or have no insurance coverage if they continue seeing their Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam provider.
Can I use the Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam emergency department?
Patients are entitled to emergency care at any hospital until they are stabilized. Once stabilized, authorization will be required from Dean Health Plan for Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam to continue providing inpatient care in-network.
What if patients are currently in treatment?
Even though our contract expires Feb. 28, 2021, patients who have Dean Health Plan as their insurer can still see their Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam provider with in-network coverage under the Continuity of Care terms, a special authorization that allows patients to continue to seek services with out-of-network providers at an in-network benefit level after the contract has ended. We encourage you to talk to Dean Health Plan to be sure you have a clear understanding of what is covered under the Continuity of Care.
Are there alternate health plans that allow Dodge County residents to see Marshfield Clinic providers in-network?
There are multiple health insurers who offer individual and family plans that include Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam providers as in-network. Please visit www.bdch.com/Insurance-Overview. You can also contact your employer’s Human Resources department with questions. Our Health System participates in other insurance options that could continue to allow access to Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam.
How can patients find network providers?
As the insurer offering the network, Dean Health Plan has the responsibility to assist their members with finding network providers. Patients should contact Dean Health Plan directly for assistance with network providers.
Are there plans to renegotiate with Dean Health Plan?
We’ve had a strong relationship in the past. We were in discussions with Dean Health Plan for several months on a renewal of our agreement. While both parties negotiated in good faith, we could not come to an agreement that we felt would allow us to meet the needs of our patients and the promises to our community.