Parrish, Cigna agree to new deal terms avoiding service interruption for Brevard teachers
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Insurance provider Cigna and Parrish Medical Center reached a multi-year agreement after an impasse left some Brevard County teachers and their families in a lurch last week.
Parrish Healthcare said in a news release the agreement means Cigna customers have regained access to Parrish Medical Center and Parrish Medical Group physicians. The agreement, announced Monday, took effect immediately.
"While we regret Cigna's failure to timely and fairly resolve the dispute that resulted in its members suffering unnecessary confusion over potential service disruption, we are pleased Cigna members will continue to have access to high-quality healthcare close to home," said Parrish Healthcare President/CEO George Mikitarian in Monday's release.
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If a deal had not been reached, more than 2,400 people, both teachers and their family members on the Brevard Public School district's silver plan, would not have had access to health care from Parrish. Parrish was one of only two providers covered by that plan.
Kyle Savage, treasurer for the Brevard Federation of Teachers union, told FLORIDA TODAY, "We are excited that Cigna and Parrish were able to reach an agreement that ensures teachers in Brevard will have access to affordable care."
According to Parrish, this new agreement ensures no disruption of service to its customers.
But Savage said that isn't necessarily the case. While temporary, he said that the lack of a service agreement and coverage uncertainty had already impacted some teachers and their families by canceling doctors' appointments. "The Brevard Federation of Teachers finds it unacceptable," he said.
According to Chris McAlpine, a senior vice president with Parrish Health Care, Cigna owed $1.3 million to Parrish for medical services leaving Parrish to operate at a deficit with the insurance provider. In return, Parrish had issued the notice of termination to Cigna.
Jamie Groh is a reporter for Florida Today. You can contact her at JGroh@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AlteredJamie.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard teachers regain health insurance access with new deal
