SAN JOSE: Area Columbia/HCA Hospitals Reach Pact with HealthNet
A threat by Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. to cut off HealthNet Corp. members in three San Jose hospitals never materialized, as the two health care giants reached an agreement July 31, the San Jose Business Journal reports. Columbia officials cited "unhappiness with payment levels and contract language" in serving HealthNet members at Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose Medical Center and South Valley Hospital. But just as with "last year's bitter negotiations with Blue Cross of California, Columbia brokered a deal just before the existing contract was to have expired on Aug. 1." Good Samaritan CEO William Piche said the deal "achieves our price and earnings goals" (Delevett, 8/9 issue).
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