January 24, 1997

Management change won’t impact Vanderbilt health plans’ service

Management change won't impact Vanderbilt health plans' service

A change in management of Vanderbilt's health plans should not result in any disruption of service for those people covered by the plans, Vanderbilt University Medical Center officials said.

In a memo to Vanderbilt faculty and staff last week, Dr. Roscoe R. Robinson, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, said that steps have been initiated to bring operations and management of the plans ‹ which include Health 1-2-3, Health 1-2-3 Platinum and VHP Community Care ‹ in-house and under the leadership of Dr. James K. Geraughty, associate vice chancellor for Health Affairs.

VUMC recently terminated its management contract with THG Management Services Inc., a Nashville-based managed care firm retained to oversee the health plans. The company has filed suit, disputing some issues surrounding VUMC's termination of the contract. At present, THG continues to manage the day-to-day operations of the health plans.

However, the estimated 47,000 people covered by the health plans should not notice any change in service, Robinson said.

"Members of Health 1-2-3, Health 1-2-3 Platinum and Vanderbilt Community Care will not experience any disruption of service due to these changes, and we do not anticipate any changes in our provider panel.

"All current procedures for accessing health services will remain the same," he said.