To the Editor:
Recently, I, as well as many of the citizens of Bayonne, received a letter from Daniel A. Kane, president and CEO of the Bayonne Medical Center, advising citizens and users of the hospital of the BMC’s Insurance Helpdesk. Troubling was the letter’s dire warning, “You, as a patient, are responsible for charges related to BMC’s medical services. BMC will bill you the unpaid balance of your account after your insurance carrier pays whatever amount, if any, it is going to pay the hospital. Bayonne does not waive patient liability.”
IJKG Opco, LLC purchased BMC out of bankruptcy. You may recall the City of Bayonne bonded $6 million toward the Bayonne Medical Center.
This requirement that the patient pays is in direct contradiction to Mr. Kane’s presentation in the spring of 2008. At an open town hall meeting hosted by then Mayor Terrence Malloy, Mr. Kane emphasized and stated continuously to Mr. Hugh Roarty, “Whatever the insurance company pays, we will accept. The patient will not pay anything more.” Now that does appear to be the case. Patients should pay close attention to their charges.
We urge the owners and operators of the BMC to reach agreements with the insurance companies without delay. Affordable access to healthcare is becoming a dinosaur. Citizens are urged to seek their network hospitals until BMC gets the message that promises mean something.
PETER J. CRESCI ESQ.