Parties reach agreement on specialty providers contract for Fort Drum MEDDAC
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (Feb. 13, 2019) – Samaritan Medical Center and Humana today announced they have reached an agreement on a new contract that will allow all specialty providers within the Samaritan Medical Practice back in the TRICARE Network, effective Feb. 11, 2019.
The Specialty Practice includes general surgery; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology; thoracic surgery; plastic surgery; radiation oncology; pulmonology; OB/GYN; vascular surgery and orthopedic surgery.
Negotiations between Humana, the contract administrator for TRICARE, and Samaritan Medical Center continued following the expiration of the prior agreement on Jan. 1, 2019.
“We are pleased to announce we have come to terms with Humana that will allow us to continue providing a wide variety of high-quality specialty services to the Soldiers, retirees, civilian employees, and their Families of the Fort Drum Medical Command (MEDDAC),” said Thomas H. Carman, president and CEO, Samaritan Medical Center.
“We are pleased to continue to offer these valuable services close to home for our TRICARE beneficiaries through the Samaritan Medical Practice,” Carman added.
While there was no lapse in coverage and care for the beneficiaries previously assigned to the Samaritan specialists, the new agreement helps maintain a broad network of options for patients.
“Helping our beneficiaries get the care they need when and where they want it is at the center of our mission,” said Brent Densford, president of Humana Military. “We’re happy to see our relationship with Samaritan continuing with these trusted providers.”
As per a non-disclosure agreement reached by both parties, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Samaritan Medical Center continued delivering emergency, urgent, and both in-patient medical and behavioral health care following the expiration of the prior agreement, but a number of outpatient specialty services were impacted during the negotiations.
(Samaritan Medical Center)