Denton Community Hospital is expected to reopen as Presbyterian Hospital of Denton in early April.

Currently, Presbyterian Hospital of Denton is not contracted with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Health-Select Program and will not be able to provide services as a network provider, says Donna Shell, assistant director of the Department of Human Resources. Since many employees use Denton hospitals, it is important they know the least expensive option is to use a network facility, she says.

Beginning in April, surgery and outpatient procedures scheduled at Denton Community Hospital/Presbyterian Hospital will be covered as non-network benefits. Non-network procedures require an annual $1,500 deductible for a family or $500 per person and HealthSelect covers only 60 percent of allowable amounts. This means employees will be responsible for the first $1,500 or $500, 40 percent of the allowable charges and the balance of the bill not covered under allowable amounts. The difference between network and non-network charges can amount to several thousand dollars. Once Denton Community becomes Presbyterian Hospital, the only network hospital in Denton will be Denton Regional Medical Center.

"Our hope is that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas HealthSelect Program and Denton Presbyterian can come to some agreement before the end of March," says Shell. "It benefits UNT employees to have the choice between the two hospitals."

BY JULIE ELLIOTT jelliott@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Regents approve recommendation to create UNT Honors College
• Libraries conducting survey to measure service
• UNT to commemorate advances and sacrifices of women during March
• Faculty Senate members meet the newly appointed faculty ombudsman
• Music sales support tsunami relief
• Lace up your walking shoes for Denton Relay for Life
• Organizing the office made easier with time specifically dedicated to the task
• Tips to tame the challenges of the clock

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