ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. (October 30, 2012). Linton & Associates, LLC, an employee benefits specialist agency serving New Mexico and the surrounding states, announced that it supports Lovelace Health System and its efforts to help clients transition to new physicians in light of recent events where ABQ Health Partners medical group has terminated its participation with the Lovelace Health Plan effective November 8, 2012.
Recently, it was announced that Lovelace was not able to reach an agreement on a contract extension with ABQ Health Partners, a company that was recently purchased by a California company, HealthCare Partners. Lovelace was not able to agree with terms that they felt did not benefit members. The result is that patients will now have to find new physicians, switch their insurance, or pay out of pocket.
However, Lovelace is determined to minimize the amount of changes and costs that will impact members by working with them directly, especially those currently undergoing care for chronic illnesses or cancer treatment. Also, ABQ Health Partners physicians can also continue to have privileges in Lovelace hospitals.
In
commenting on the recent events, Terry Linton, founder of Linton and
Associates, LLC, noted, “We support Lovelace 100% on their efforts to reach an
agreement and negotiate with ABQ Health Partners, their operating philosophy,
and their commitment to help members who must now find new physicians they can
trust.”
Lovelace
has made information available through its Customer Care line at 505.727.LOVE
(5683) or toll-free at 8550252.2273. They can also be reached via email at: findadoctor@lovelace.com or in their
Albuquerque offices at 4101 Indian School Road. The Company had also recently
held five town hall meetings to also help members understand the changes and
assist with a smooth transition.
About Linton &
Associates, LLC
Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Linton & Associates, LLC serves over 160 employer groups and over 700 individual clients throughout New Mexico as well as the surrounding states. Established in 1988, the agency’s expert team is familiar with the real estate, construction, hospitality industry, legal firms and small employer groups, serving numerous clients in those fields in both small and large organizations with fully and self-insured plans, Section 125 plans, High Deductible Health Plans and Health Savings Accounts. Linton & Associates, LLC has built a network of associations with all the national ancillary carriers in life insurance, short and long term disability, and retirement plans. For more information, please visit www.lintonandassociates.com.
About Lovelace
Lovelace Health System
consists of Lovelace Medical Center, Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital, Lovelace
Women’s Hospital, Lovelace Westside Hospital, Heart Hospital of New Mexico at
Lovelace Medical Center, Lovelace Regional Hospital-Roswell, the Lovelace
Health Plan offering health insurance to 210,000 New Mexicans with access to
a wide range of health care providers and specialists across New
Mexico, and 11 retail pharmacy locations in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and
Santa Fe. For more information, please visit www.lovelace.com.
