Dive Brief:
- Doctors at Good Samaritan in Kearney, NE adopted a resolution expressing "no confidence" in the leadership of the hospital's parent company, CHI health.
- At the same time, some physicians who practice at St. Francis in Grand Island are considering opening a new hospital that would be independent of CHI.
- The doctors are frustrated over a conflict between CHI and Blue Cross Blue Shied of Nebraska, one of the area's major insurers.
Dive Insight:
The vote of no confidence came after CHI was unable to reach an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shied and Blue Cross terminated their contract. Doctors say the conflict has caused the hospital to take a financial beating and they are frustrated by leadership's loss of control over their institutions. CHI leadership says they understand the doctors' frustrations and that CHI is still trying to reach an agreement with Blue Cross.
CHI's CEO Cliff Robertson said he believes leaving a healthcare system in favor of opening a stand-alone hospital is a risky move because the US healthcare system is moving toward consolidation, rather than away from it, to control costs and improve quality.