The Myrah Keating-Smith Health Center has been approved as a Blue Cross network provider, which means that coverage for qualifying services provided to subscribers at the clinic is now 80 percent, up from the previous 60 percent.
According to a release from the Roy L. Schneider Hospital, the increased coverage for services provided at the health center to persons insured with Blue Cross is retroactive to Oct. 1, 1999, and includes emergency medical boat transfer services.
The change came about because of a V.I. law placing the St. John health center under the jurisdiction of the V.I. Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corp., according to Eugene Woods, Schneider Hospital chief executive. The Schneider and Juan F. Luis Hospitals also fall under the corporation.
"This is a win-win situation for the patients and the health center," Woods said in a release issued Thursday. "Not only will Blue Cross subscribers pay less out of pocket for services provided on St. John, but the center will have a higher percentage of guaranteed revenue from the commercial insurance provider."
Blue Cross subscribers on St. John who have questions should call the Blue Cross office at 774-2888.
