Blue Cross Blue Shield cuts ties with Le Bonheur and puts Black Tennesseans at risk | Opinion
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed a light on many of the racial inequities that still plague our society, with one key takeaway being the pronounced impact that the virus has had on Black communities. But COVID-19 is not an anomaly when it comes to racial health disparities, it is unfortunately yet another example of Black Americans, on average, suffering worse health outcomes than their white counterparts due to various factors including socioeconomic status and broader healthcare access, among others.
One would hope that the prominent actors in our healthcare system would use the moment we find ourselves in to implement solutions that help level the playing field for Black Americans. Instead, there is clear evidence the dangerous trend of cutting key healthcare providers from insurance networks is becoming an issue statewide for Black Tennesseans.
In Tennessee, the most public case of a major health insurance company cutting providers and causing patients harm is the situation involving Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST), the largest health insurance provider in the state, and Methodist Le Bonheur Health Care. BCBST recently terminated its contract with several Methodist Le Bonheur Health Care locations over pricing disputes.
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What this would mean for Black Tennesseans
While thousands of residents across West Tennessee rely on Methodist as their trusted provider, the termination will have an especially negative impact on BCBST customers in Memphis - which Methodist is headquartered out of and serves as the home to more Black Tennesseans than any other city in our state.
Memphis is not alone. Last year TeamHealth’s southeastern market leader in Knoxville spoke out very publicly against a BCBST rate reduction of 60% to doctors and providers, a move he characterized as the insurer putting profits before patients.
Studies have repeatedly indicated that Black Americans, as well as Black Americans specifically living in our region of the country, suffer worse health outcomes. For example, one recent study out of the University of Alabama found that chronic illnesses among Mid-South residents disproportionately affect the Black community. The study claimed that Black women living in the Mid-South had the highest percentages of obesity, HBP, diabetes, and stroke among all subgroups, while Black men had the second-highest percentages of obesity, HBP, diabetes, and MI among all subgroups.
BCBST's decision will have a domino effect
Network availability and the adequacy of networks is a threshold issue for any population or group of patients. Decisions to cut key providers from networks such as BCBST’ will undoubtedly disrupt life-saving medical care for many Tennesseans with cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, and other chronic illnesses, but sadly, the brunt of this impact will once again disproportionately harm low-income patients and people of color. This restricted access to necessary care forces patients to seek care outside their communities, which for most working people is an unrealistic economic proposal.
BCBST’ recent actions to push providers out of their network is troubling. It will limit Black Tennesseans’ access to care for health conditions that they suffer at a disproportionately higher rate than other demographics. It is imperative that Tennessee policymakers and healthcare leaders take notice and act.
Chris Yard is a native of Memphis, an activist, and pre-law student at the University of Tennessee. His work focuses on establishing justice for marginalized groups in the state.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Blue Cross Blue Shield hurts Black Tennesseans by cutting Le Bonheur
