GREENSBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina State Health Plan had reopened the window for providers to join the Network through August 5 and many didn't sign up.
According to the State Treasurers office, only five out of 126 hospitals in North Carolina joined, and Randolph Health is the only one in the Triad. Others include CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, Martin General Hospital in Williamston, North Carolina Specialty Hospital in Durham and Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory.
This affects more than 45,000 teachers and state employees between Guilford and Forsyth counties alone.
This brings up the question, are state employees going to have to search for new health care providers? Or is the State going to have to re-evaluate its Clear Pricing Project?
North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell launched the Clear Pricing Project last October. As part of the project, the State sets rates so you'd know how much a procedure or visit will cost before you go. Folwell said this plan would reduce health care costs for patients and increase transparency.
The Treasurer's office says 27,000 independent providers have signed on to the Clear Pricing Project.
So far, we've confirmed major health providers in our area did not sign to join the North Carolina State Health Plan Network.
Who's In?
- Randolph Health
- MinuteClinic
- EmergeOrtho
Who's Out?
- Cone Health
- Novant Health
- Wake Forest Baptist Health
- UNC Health Care
- Duke Health
- WakeMed
Wake Forest Baptist Health says they will not provide comment on whether or not they've joined the State Health Plan, but a list of hospitals provided by the State Treasurer's office confirms they did not. Duke Health shared they "do not yet have an agreement with the state treasurer’s office, but [we] are actively seeking a solution."
Last time WFMY News 2 spoke with Folwell, he said the State would try to work with hospitals where the state health plan isn't accepted.
"We're still working with all of those providers. But I'm pleased to report that 27,000 providers of health care have signed on to the Clear Pricing Project," the treasurer said.
He emphasized that they want hospitals like Cone Health to sign on because they're often some of the only choices in some neighborhoods in Greensboro.
We've reached out to the treasurer for an update on what will happen if the state health plan isn't accepted by major North Carolina hospitals.
This is a developing story and this list will be updated as more are confirmed.