Since PBA won’t inform us, let us inform them

[Unregistered]

That the PBA sucks. Clear enough for you?

Agreed. Phony people who only care about themselves and their imaginary

[Unregistered]

From: Info <Info@dcpba.org>
Date: April 16, 2020 at 3:29:48 PM EDT
Subject: AvMed Update


Bargaining Unit Members:

We wanted to provide two updates related to issues that have come to our attention.

First, we are aware that many of you have received letters from your personal physicians indicating that AvMed is dropping doctors from its plan. You have legitimate concerns regarding this, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have had multiple conversations with representatives from AvMed and with some of the doctors in an effort to resolve this.

What is occurring is that while your personal physicians may be sole practitioners or part of a small medical practice, they are also often members of a larger organization, VitalMD, which is the management arm of a physician network comprised of primary care physicians, obstetricians/gynecologists, and other specialties. Right now, VitalMD is in negotiations with AvMed to negotiate payments as their current contract is set to expire. As you might expect, when those contracts are being renegotiated, the medical associations, on behalf of the medical practices they represent, want to be paid more for their services than health insurance companies want to pay, and likewise, insurance companies, in this case AvMed, may not agree with the payments for specific tests or services that VitalMD is demanding.

For instance (and this is a purely made-up example, only to illustrate what we are talking about), AvMed may currently pay $100 for an office visit, and with the renegotiation, the medical associations are demanding $200. AvMed may be willing to increase its payment to $125 or $150, but is unwilling to go as high as $200. If there is no agreement on these types of payments between AvMed and the medical associations, then they can’t enter into a successor contract.

In the end, it is not AvMed who is dropping your doctor from its plan, but the doctor who is unwilling to accept the payment AvMed is willing to approve for the doctor’s services.

The PBA is not here to take sides in this, only to assist as best we can to remedy the situation so that you are not the ones who lose out. We are hopeful that an agreement will be reached prior to April 30, 2020, which is the current expiration date. The reason you received the letter is that it is required to be sent at least 30 days prior to termination. We will continue to be working with all parties in an effort to resolve this so that the transition to a new contract will be seamless.

Second, on behalf of Paul Kelley of Kelley Law Group, who handles many of the worker’s compensation claims of our members, be advised that COVID-19 is a covered illness with a presumption that it was job related if you test positive. In that unfortunate event, in addition to contacting the PBA, make sure your supervisor submits an exposure report, and contact Paul Kelley (Paul@KelleyLawGroup.org) to insure your rights are protected.

[Unregistered]

That’s right! With the health insurance problems looming over our heads, Steadman Stahl writes “The PBA is not here to take sides in this,”
And there lies the problem. The PBA has well earned the reputation of not fighting, or caring for its members and now we have it straight from Steadmans’ mouth.
The PBA should be taking side unless they are getting money from AvMed and they don’t want to upset the golden goose. But, we pay dues money and Steadman is rapidly losing support and respect.
So, there you have it!!!! PBA won’t take your said is another way to say it.