Court grants Northside Hospital injunction extension
Press Release January 29, 2022
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A judge has extended an injunction that ensures thousands of Georgians will continue to receive health care from their current physicians and preferred hospitals.
This most recent decision by the Superior Court of Fulton County enables Anthem members who seek care at Northside’s hospitals, clinics, and physician practices to remain fully covered and in-network through April 15, 2022.
In a court hearing on January 26, Anthem sought to end the 30-day injunction and initiate an immediate termination of health care coverage for Northside patients. Today, a judge denied Anthem’s request and granted the extension to Northside.
Other stakeholders in the Atlanta region – including Cherokee, Forsyth, and Gwinnett counties – provided support through their own court filings or letters of concern. Tens of thousands of their government employees and local teachers are Anthem members, and they would be adversely affected if a termination had occurred.
While the injunction extension keeps Northside’s Anthem patients in network, Northside and Anthem remain in negotiations as they try to work out new agreements.
Northside’s agreements with Anthem were not up for renewal and were not set to expire. Still, Anthem began a process that would separate hundreds of thousands of Georgians from their doctors and health care resources by unilaterally and without cause terminating the existing agreements.
In its original court filings in late 2021, Northside cited a Georgia law that went into effect July 1, 2021. House Bill 454 was approved by both houses of the Georgia General Assembly and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp. It prevents insurance companies from terminating health care providers during a public health emergency, such as COVID-19.
Northside has worked diligently to resolve this situation and is acutely aware of the stress and frustration of Anthem members and their families. Northside will continue its discussions with Anthem, with the intention of reaching an agreement that provides the best benefits to patients and their families.
If You Have Questions
We have resources available to you now at northside.com. We encourage you to visit Billing and Collections, where you will find guidance and many resources. You also can email [email protected] or call 404-851-6500.
To learn more about Northside Hospital’s Financial Assistance Program, you can download the Northside Hospital Financial Assistance Program Policy and Financial Assistance Application or you may contact our Financial Counseling offices to request that a copy of these documents be mailed to you. If you are an oncology patient, the Financial Assistance Application for Oncology can be found here.
Northside patients can remain in Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield network
Press Release January 10, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
DECEMBER 30, 2021 — In a major victory for hundreds of thousands of Georgians, Northside Hospital has been granted injunctive relief by the court that temporarily stops a threatened termination of health care coverage by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The decision by the Superior Court of Fulton County enables Anthem members who seek care at Northside’s hospitals, clinics, and physician practices to remain fully covered and in-network while the parties work towards a long-term resolution.
In its court filings, Northside cited a Georgia law that went into effect July 1, 2021. House Bill 454 was approved by both houses of the Georgia General Assembly and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp. Specifically, the law states in part:
“In the event of a public health emergency…..an insurer shall, for a period commencing on the effective date of the public health emergency and ending 150 days after the expiration of such public health emergency…..be prohibited from terminating a provider from the insurer’s network…..”
Why did Northside take this action?
Our agreements with Anthem were not up for renewal and were not set to expire. Still, earlier this year, Anthem began a process that would separate hundreds of thousands of Georgians from their doctors and health care resources by unilaterally and without cause terminating the existing agreements. And with the COVID-19 Omicron variant now surging through U.S. and Georgia, Anthem’s decision to remove Northside from its networks defied both logic and sensitivity.
What does this mean for Anthem members?
It means that Anthem members can continue to receive health care services at any Northside location or physician practice on an in-network basis after January 1. The injunction issued by the courts is a temporary measure to ensure Anthem patients can still access care within the Northside Healthcare System. In the meantime, Northside will continue its discussions with Anthem, with the intention of reaching a long-term agreement that provides the best benefits to patients and their families.
We encourage Northside patients to continue to share their concerns with Anthem — to ensure that their rights to choose their physicians and hospitals are protected.
Northside Hospital and United Healthcare renew relationship
Press Release August 2, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
ATLANTA – Georgia-based Northside Hospital health care system and UnitedHealthcare today announced that they have renewed their relationship, ensuring UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare Advantage plans will have uninterrupted access to care at Northside’s Atlanta, Cherokee and Forsyth hospitals.
The multi-year agreement also restores access to Northside’s Gwinnett and Duluth hospitals as well as the Glancy Rehabilitation Center and Northside Gwinnett Extended Care Center for people enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual plans, effective Aug. 1, 2021. All four facilities have also joined the network for UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans, including the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage National PPO plan.
UnitedHealthcare members will have continued access to Northside’s physicians and outpatient facilities.
“Our more than 30-year partnership with UnitedHealthcare was a significant factor in our successful renewal. Our many years of commitment to patient care directed both of us throughout this process. We are pleased that we have come to an agreement that provides the necessary resources for Northside to deliver the standard of care that is consistent with our reputation in the communities we serve. We look forward to continuing to provide Northside patients and UnitedHealthcare members the best possible health care experiences,” said Scott Wade, vice president of Northside Hospital.
“Our top priority throughout our negotiations with Northside was to ensure the people we’re honored to serve have continued access to quality care at affordable, sustainable rates, and the renewal of our longstanding relationship accomplishes that goal. We appreciate Northside’s collaboration in achieving this outcome,” said Junior Harewood, CEO of UnitedHealthcare in Georgia.
In Georgia, UnitedHealthcare serves nearly 1.2 million people enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare and Medicaid plans through a network of 145 hospitals and more than 29,000 physicians and other care providers.
About Northside Hospital
The Northside Hospital health care system is one of Georgia’s leading health care providers with more than 250 locations, including five acute care state-of-the-art hospitals in Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Duluth and Lawrenceville. With nearly 25,000 employees across the state, Northside Hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries and is among the state’s top providers of cancer care, sports medicine, cardiovascular and surgical services. For more information, visit: northside.com.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,500 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.
Northside Hospital updates visitor guidelines
Press Release June 30, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Northside Hospital has established visitation guidelines that consider patient, public health and staff safety, as well as the emotional and care needs of patients and their families who are separated while facing illness or life events. Northside reserves the right to reduce visitation access at any time based on public health and safety concerns.
Visitor Policy
- One visitor per day will be allowed for non-COVID medical, surgical and ICU patients during specified hours:
- Northside Hospital Atlanta – 1 p.m.–7 p.m.
- Northside Hospital Cherokee – 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Northside Hospital Duluth – 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Northside Hospital Forsyth – 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Northside Hospital Gwinnett – 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
The visitor must remain the same person for the duration of the visit and must be age 16 or older.
- One visitor will be allowed for non-COVID Emergency Department patients. The visitor must remain the same person for the duration of the visit.
- Women’s Services, surgical and procedural areas will continue to permit one support person/care partner per patient. Labor & Delivery patients are allowed one support person (includes doulas) of the mother’s choosing for the duration of the hospital stay. No substitutions are allowed.
- Northside Hospital Special Care Nurseries will permit two primary caregivers to visit their infant in the NICU for eight hours each day; this may be extended to four hours for discharge training. Northside staff will continue to provide resources – including tablets for live streaming and emailed photographs – to enable visitors to connect with the babies.
- Patients undergoing outpatient surgery or procedures are allowed one visitor in the waiting room.
- Visitors are not allowed at outpatient facilities, including all Northside Hospital Cancer Institute outpatient oncology practices and infusion centers.
- Minor patients (under 18) are allowed two visitors.
- Exceptions may be made for patients receiving end-of-life care, rapid decline in condition, emergency care, behavioral health concerns or other unique patient conditions.
Visitor Screening Guidelines and Requirements
All visitors will be required to:
- Wear a facemask covering their mouth and nose at all times while in the facility.
- Perform frequent hand hygiene. Remain in the patient’s room at all times unless asked to wait in another designated area. Visitors/caregivers who do not comply with the guidelines will be asked to leave the facility.
Visitors will be screened for symptoms of acute respiratory illness in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines before entering the facility:
- Visitors with a positive screen will not be permitted to enter the facility
- Visitors with a negative screen will receive a colored armband each day. The band must be worn for the duration of each daily visit.
During non-visiting hours, we encourage family members and friends to use alternative means to interact with loved ones via phone and video calls (FaceTime, Skype, etc.), social media and other tools. Scroll down for information about how to call or send mail to a patient at a Northside hospital.
Infection control and prevention measures are always a priority at Northside Hospital. Our Infection Control specialists and clinical leadership have a coordinated and comprehensive plan to handle infectious disease patients, adhering to the CDC’s recommendations and guidelines for prevention, surveillance and treatment.
For more information about COVID-19, prevention and symptoms, please visit the following resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Read more about Northside’s COVID-19 Response.
Ask The Doc: COPD And Kidney Failure
Community June 6, 2021
This morning, the doctors discussed a question Regarding COPD. What is the Life Expectancy and Prognosis with COPD. What are the stages? How do you recognize End Stage COPD? Can you reverse COPD damage? The Doctors also discuss a question regarding Kidney Failure as a result of Diabetes. How does diabetes affect the kidneys? The doctors also touch on the latest in Covid-19 news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL8LmqcUBwU
Ask The Doc: Dieting And Weight Loss
Community May 30, 2021
This week, we are joined by Dr. Raymond Tidman! Dr. Tidman discusses why he chose to become a doctor. What makes a good Doctor? He also touches on the practice of dieting and What doesn’t work and what does. What is the best way to diet? What is the importance of knowing how many calories are in the food you eat? They also take some time to touch on the vaccine. Who should be taking it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4QjjnBd874
Ask The Doc: Lung Spicules After Monitoring Kidney Mass And subconjunctival hemorrhage
Community May 23, 2021
This week, the Doctors discuss a Viewer question regarding a Kidney mass where the doctor is monitoring the growth. After monitoring the growth they discover Spicules On Lung Scan. Is it Small Cell Lung Cancer? Will they have to Remove the Kidney. What is the Survival Rate Of Lung Cancer and of Kidney Cancer? They also touch on A question regarding Having multiple Bloody eyes over the course of 6 weeks. What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage? How Common are they? What causes subconjunctival hemorrhages? Is it a sign of something bigger happening in the body? What are the causes of psoriasis? The Doctors also touch on the latest Covid-19 news for this week.
Ask The Doc! Sleep Apnea And Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia
Community May 16, 2021
This week, The Doctors discuss Sleep Apnea. How harmful is it? What exactly is Sleep Apnea? How is it treated? What is the mortality Rate of Sleep Apnea? The doctors also touch on Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia. what is it? How do you begin treatment? They also touch on the latest Covid-19 News. All this and more on Ask The Doc!
Ask The Doc: Keytruda And Rectal Metstases
Featured Stories May 9, 2021
This week, the doctors discuss Achilles Tendonitis. How do you treat it? How long is the recovery time? They also touch on the use of Keytruda (Jimmy Carter Drug) and the side effects that can come from it. Lastly, they address a question regarding Rectal Metastases. What is the treatment plan? The doctors also discuss the latest in vaccine news.
Ask The Doc! PSA elevation And Liver Biopsy While Being Treated For Breast Cancer
Community April 26, 2021
This morning, Dr. Whaley discusses PSA elevation with a patient that wants to watch and wait. Is that the best choice? Should he get his prostate removed now or watch and wait? He Also touches on A question from a woman who is currently being treated for breast cancer. After having a pain in her side, her doctor wants to do a biopsy of her liver. If she’s already being treated for breast cancer, is it necessary? What does the doc say? All this and more Right here on Ask The Doc!
Ask The Doc! Pancreatic Neoplasm & Anorectal Abscesses
Community April 11, 2021
This morning, The doctors discuss Dr. Tidman’s Trip to the British Virgin Islands. What hoops did he have to jump through in order to make it there and back. They also discuss Neoplasm Pancreatic Cancer. How does it develop? Why is it so hard to diagnose Pancreatic Cancer? They also discuss Anorectal Abscesses. Where do they come from? How would the Doctors treat them? They also give us a brief Covid-19 update.
Ask The Doc! Developing Amyloidosis And Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Community April 18, 2021
This morning, The doctors discuss a question regarding Developing Amyloidosis after two Stem cell treatments. What can Amyloidosis affect and what is the treatment? They also touch on Antiphospholipid Syndrome. What is it? What causes it? How is it treated? Dr. Whaley also discusses the latest in Covid-19 news! All This and more on Ask The Doc!
Ask The Doc: Blood Clotting Gene And Recurring Cancer After 4 Years
Community April 4, 2021
This week, Dr. Whaley discusses a blood clotting gene that can be passed down from parents. How likely are you to get it if one of your parents have the gene. What increases the likelyhood of getting a blood clot? He also discusses Prostate cancer recurring after 4 years. What is Oligo-metastatic prostate cancer and how is it treated? Dr. Whaley also gives his weekly covid update. All this and more on Ask The Doc!
Ask The Doc! Hemochromatosis & Lung Masses
Community March 28, 2021
This week, Dr. Whaley discusses Hemochromatosis in a healthy patient that had unknowingly been treating it for 30 years. How does he go about treatment now? He also discusses a patient with a broken shoulder that was scanned when a lung mass too small to biopsy showed up on the scan. What’s the latest on Covid?
Ask The Doc! Endometrial Carcinoma And Breast Cancer In The Elderly
Lifestyle March 21, 2021
This week, the doctors are answering all of your health questions! Why is it important to keep up with your annual doctors appointments. What is Endometrial Carcinoma? How common is it? What are the outcomes? What are the different methods of treatment? How do you treat breast cancer in different age groups? What impact does age have on the type of treatment of Breast cancer? They also touch on the recent covid news and some Viewer questions regarding Covid-19.
Ask The Doc! A Year Later
Community March 14, 2021
This week, the doctors discuss the pandemic and where we were at just a year ago. They discuss the uncertainty and the lack of knowledge we had just a year ago. How much has changed is just a year. They also discuss the viewer questions regarding Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia and the “Maintenance” after having a bone marrow transplant. Where do we stand with outdoor events? All this and more right here on Ask The Doc!