Granite City — The sudden loss of employee insurance at Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City has left some employees uneasy.
On June 9, GRMC employees said they received an email from Rob Boyd, the company’s chief human resources officer, stating that medical benefits had been discontinued as of June 1. rice field. As of June 12, the company will provide staff with options to ensure that the loss of coverage it “will provide benefits” does not affect. “
This includes general insurance registration.
“Our owner, Mike Sullian, and the corporate team at AHS (American Healthcare Systems, parent company of GRMC) are well aware of the problems this has caused and as a result, AHS has taken on this new premium. “Reporting in this short-term crisis,” the memo said. “In addition, AHS will assist with any medical expenses incurred during the loss of insurance. We encourage you to submit the claim to Human Resources.”
According to a copy of an employee-provided memo sent to employees by Joshua Sable, general counsel for Modern HR, Gateway’s insurer, the hospital and its parent company “have been unable to pay large sums past due. is continually denied.” salary and benefits. “
GRMC officials did not respond to requests for information or comment, and were unable to contact Sable to review the memo.
Because of this, the memo states that Modern HR canceled employee compensation on April 30.
The memo said the company had notified AHS of the deductible amount for those affected and that the employee should be reimbursed.
It also states that loss of insurance is a “qualifying event” that allows employees to seek insurance through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
The hospital was acquired earlier this year by Los Angeles-based American Healthcare Systems from Quorum Health Corporation.
It was established as a private institution around 1900, then purchased by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1920 and sold in 2001.
The sisters operated the hospital, which was renamed St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and later St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, before being sold to Tennessee-based Community Health Systems in 2001 and renamed Gateway Regional Medical Center.
In 2015, CHS spun off 38 hospitals, including GRMC, to form Quorum Health Corporation.
In November, it was announced that GRMC would be sold to American Healthcare Systems.
