UPDATE: The two groups worked through the night to reach a resolution and both parties have reached an agreement. CCCN will continue to accept new HPN HMO and Senior Dimensions patients.
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From the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada:
Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada (CCCN) and Health Plan of Nevada (HPN) are in an ongoing dispute, which CCCN has made repeated attempts to resolve. On October 12, 2016, formal mediation of these issues failed. The parties will enter into binding arbitration, likely in several months’ time.
While arbitration is pending, CCCN unfortunately will not be accepting new HPN HMO and Senior Dimensions patients. CCCN will, however, continue to care for all patients on an active course of treatment.
“CCCN has a 35-year history of putting cancer patients first,” said Dr. Mary Ann Allison, CCCN practice president. “It is unfortunate for the community that CCCN has been forced into this situation.”
At the same time, HPN, through its sister company Optum, Inc., hired half of CCCN’s former Cancer and Blood Specialists of Nevada (CBSN) physicians who were supporting these patients. On August 29, 2016, counsel for Optum notified CCCN that Robert B. McBeath M.D. Professional Corporation doing business as Nevada Cancer Specialists (NCS) had entered into employment agreements with Drs. Russell Gollard, Edgardo Faylona, and Gilbert Nyamuswa. Dr. McBeath is President of OptumCare Nevada Market and CEO of Southwest Medical Associates. Optum, Inc. is an affiliate of HPN under UnitedHealthcare. As a result of Optum’s hiring these physicians, CCCN only had four business days’ notice to reschedule hundreds of cancer patients.
CCCN has no choice but to stop accepting new HPN HMO and Senior Dimensions patients until this dispute is resolved and CCCN receives adequate support from HPN to treat its patients. CCCN strives to ensure the most appropriate level of service that can be safely provided to its patients.
CCCN is not the only Nevada provider challenging HPN’s reimbursement. In Northern Nevada, HPN and Saint Mary’s Health Network are currently in an ongoing dispute regarding its Medicaid and Medicare contract.
HPN Senior Dimensions beneficiaries may register a comment, concern, or complaint at https://www.medicare.gov/MedicareComplaintForm/ or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
From the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada
