Your questions answered: What happens to insurance, billing when Guthrie acquires Lourdes

Current Lourdes patients can expect an expansion of services, possible workforce growth and the incorporation of providers into the eGuthrie system when Pennsylvania-based Guthrie Clinic acquires Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, its locations and related physician practices from Ascension.

Announced last month, ​all current Lourdes services, facilities, providers and associates — including Lourdes' cancer and health and wellness centers and their network of primary care providers — will be transitioned to Guthrie by early 2024.

"Together we're going to be even stronger in terms of our ability to care for people," said Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, Guthrie's president and CEO.

We asked Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin readers to submit their questions about the acquisition. You'll find answers to some of those questions here, based on feedback from the leadership teams at Lourdes and Guthrie.

How will employees be affected?

Lourdes currently employs more than 2,000 doctors, nurses and associates. Readers asked how employees' salaries and benefits will be impacted by the acquisition.

According to the organizations' leadership teams, that's still being discussed.

"We want to do everything we can to keep them whole in terms of their salaries and benefits structure," Sabanegh said. "Our goal is to ensure that they have really substantially the same or better situation in their employment with us."

And those looking to switch from Guthrie locations to former Lourdes locations or vice versa, will be "every bit credited for their time," Sabanegh says.

Are there any changes to women's health offerings?

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who provide guidelines for Catholic hospitals like Lourdes, do not allow health care facilities to offer contraceptives, abortions and some other women's health procedures.

Readers asked if that would change following the acquisition, and those specifics are still being figured out.

"Our system today provides the full range of gynecological care for women, including annual exams, family planning, surgical services, minimally invasive surgery," Sabanegh said. "As an integrated health system, we look to the needs of the community we serve and be the best place for our women ... Our model is to provide a range of reproductive options for women in our community."

In an email response to questions, Lourdes president and CEO Kathy Connerton said Lourdes will align with Guthrie after the transition.

What will happen with the Lourdes financial assistance program?

Lourdes' Patient Financial Assistance Program assists patients who meet the income guidelines established by Lourdes in paying for bills, copays and deductibles. Readers asked whether the benefits would carry over once Guthrie acquired the organization.

Those details have yet to be finalized.

"No patient is denied access for emergency services regardless of their financials," Sabanegh said. "We have a financial assistance program that offers sliding scale discounts for other services, based on family size and income. We are still working out the details of that through our discussions, but I would say at a high level, I think people are going to be very happy with the financial assistance program."

What is planned for the remaining religious items?

Crucifixes, religious statues and stained glass windows depicting religious scenes are located inside and around Lourdes locations. Readers asked what the future is for those items once the transition occurs.

At this point, that hasn't been decided.

Once the transition happens, Lourdes will no longer be a faith-based nonprofit organization, according to officials from both Guthrie and Lourdes, and will not be obligated to adhere to traditional Catholic ethical and religious directives provided by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The chapel inside Lourdes Hospital will, however, remain consecrated and accessible to all. The organizations are still working to determine where the remaining religious items will go.

"We have agreed to partner on a transition plan to ensure all sacred relics and donated items are accounted for," Sabanegh said. "We are working with the church leadership and the Ascension Mission leadership to identify the items that they will allow us to keep and then to honor them as such."

Will Guthrie accept my insurance?

Many readers asked whether their current insurance plans would also be accepted after the switch to Guthrie.

Current plans should indeed align, according to Guthrie, though there may be slight differences.

"Guthrie and Ascension have similar benefit platforms but there are always subtle differences in individual plans," Sabanegh said. "We're committed to continuing substantially the same benefits for Lourdes caregivers. We're working with the Lourdes team now to communicate any changes in benefits and health insurance coverage."

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Will there be any expansion of specialties, services?

Lourdes will be joining a network of 700 providers in over 50 specialties and subspecialties. Readers asked if they would see any expansion of these services following the acquisition.

Guthrie and Lourdes intend to make that happen.

"Building upon Lourdes' strong primary care network and ambulatory services and Guthrie's network of over 700 providers in 50+ medical and surgical specialties, Guthrie expects to expand care options by providing local access for patients with the most advanced care needs," Connerton said.

What about Lourdes' hospice program?

Lourdes operates a hospice program helping individuals with terminal illnesses throughout the Binghamton area. Readers asked about the program's future.

Guthrie will be expanding their current hospice services into the area.

"We currently offer hospice services in Pennsylvania," Sabanegh says. "But we're really excited to be able to expand them with the Lourdes team throughout the New York area."

Will there be any layoffs, changes in management?

Guthrie is anticipating a growth in employees once the Lourdes acquisition is complete.

"Guthrie is committed to continuing the employment for all Lourdes associates in good standing at the time of closing, which is expected in early 2024," Connerton said. "There are no planned changes in management at this time. There will likely be a need to hire for various positions to support the transition and operations moving forward."

Currently, there aren't enough doctors, nurses, technicians and the like, Sabanegh says, and they're looking to create more local positions.

"There were jobs done in St. Louis and other areas through Ascension," according to Sabanegh. "Those jobs will be replaced locally as the system moves forward."

What about the Lourdes Foundation assets?

The Lourdes Foundation currently raises funds for various programs, projects and departments at Lourdes Hospital. Readers asked where those assets would go once Guthrie acquired the organization.

They won't be affected.

"The Lourdes Foundation is a separate charitable organization with its own board," Connerton said. "The transition to Guthrie will not impact that structure or Board. The Foundation exists solely to fundraise and support Lourdes. That will not change. All monies that are raised through the foundation will continue to support Lourdes only and will adhere to any restrictions that the donor may provide for."

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Will Lourdes doctors become part of eGuthrie?

The eGuthrie app is Guthrie's patient portal, giving patients instant access to their medical records, a platform to communicate with their provider and schedule appointments. Readers asked if Lourdes providers would become a part of that network, and Guthrie says they will.

"As we roll out the electronic medical records system, it will allow all providers to be able to use it for their patients," Sabanegh said.

Will the billing process change?

Currently, Lourdes offers two online payment options. Readers asked whether they should expect to see any changes with the process.

It will be a seamless adjustment, Guthrie says, included in the eGuthrie patient portal.

"The billing system will move on because it's the same thing as the electronic medical records," Sabanegh said. "That whole IT package comes together."

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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Lourdes, Guthrie insurance, women's health, billing questions answered