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New benefit cuts cost of laser eye surgery

If you would rather have your vision problems corrected by laser surgery than eyeglasses or contact lenses, PEF has good news for you.

The Laser Vision Correction Program, a new benefit in the 2003-’07 PS&T Contract that became available April 1, will give you a discount on the cost of having your vision corrected by laser surgery if it is performed by a provider in the Davis Vision Laser Vision Network. 
You can save up to 25 percent off the provider’s usual and customary fees, or receive an additional 5 percent discount on any advertised specials, whichever is lower. Some providers offer flat rates equivalent to these discounted levels. You are responsible for paying the discounted price.

All surgeries, including PRK (photoreactive keratectomy) and LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis), are performed by credentialed ophthalmologists and surgeons. More information about the program, including a list of providers in the Davis Vision Laser Vision Network, was mailed to members during the week of February 28.

For more information, visit the Davis Vision Web site at www.davisvision.com and click on the link for “Laser Vision Correction.” You may also call Davis Vision at 518 382-0355 or 1 800 584-2866. — Deborah Stayman

Hospitals’ spat with Empire Plan may affect PEF members
PEF Region 9 members could end up losers in a fight they never picked.

The dispute is between three hospitals in the Hudson Valley and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield over reimbursement rates for services. 

The hospitals are St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis and Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. 

The deadline for the hospitals to reach agreement with Empire Blue Cross was originally March 10. However, the parties have agreed to give themselves another 45 days to resolve their differences, so, the hospitals will remain in the Empire Plan network at least until the new deadline of April 25.

PEF believes it’s in the interest of both sides to reach agreement, since the hospitals and doctors can’t afford to lose the revenue if patients are forced to go elsewhere for network care.

PEF contacted the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) to advocate for the Region 9 members. And Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield has written to enrollees who used these hospitals recently to alert them to the dispute. — Deborah Stayman