TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- ENT and Allergy Associates LLP, the largest fully integrated ear, nose and throat, allergy and audiology practice in the tri-state area, announced today that it will no longer be network providers for Oxford Health Plans effective November 1, 2005. The decision will affect all ENT and Allergy Associates’ patients covered by Oxford.
ENT and Allergy Associates, which has more than 60 physicians practicing in 24 locations throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area, said it is taking this action because of Oxford’s refusal to negotiate fair and reasonable reimbursement rates. ENT and Allergy Associates has offices in Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess and Rockland Counties, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island and Bergen and Passaic Counties in New Jersey.
Rather than consider a reasonable fee increase to reflect rising health care costs, Oxford not only insisted that ENT and Allergy Associates continue to accept an outdated fee schedule, but also required ENT and Allergy Associate to accept an even lower fee schedule for its newly acquired United Healthcare patients.
“Our decision to terminate our relationship with Oxford was a very difficult one. It is our responsibility to provide our patients with quality health care. To that end, our priority is to continue to offer the latest technology and advances in medical care to our patients. Fortunately, all the major health insurance companies other than Oxford have partnered with us to enable their patients to receive this level of care,” said Wayne B. Eisman, MD, FACS, an ENT and Allergy Associates physician in White Plains who also serves as President of the practice’s Board of Trustees.
Dr. Eisman explained that ENT and Allergy Associates’ physicians have not received an increase in Oxford’s reimbursement since 1999. “Oxford’s reimbursement for the more common serious medical procedures that we perform is unreasonably low based on rates that are six years out of date. In addition, Oxford was insisting that we see United members at even lower reimbursement rates if we were to remain in Oxford’s network, which was simply unacceptable.”
ENT and Allergy Associates LLP, which was established in 1998 with eight offices, today has 24 offices in the region with 63 physicians and 30 licensed audiologists. The practice provides state-of-the-art care for ear, nose, throat and allergy disorders; offers a variety of highly specialized procedures that utilize the latest medical technology and participates with over 35 health plans and insurance companies.
ENT and Allergy Associates LLP is headquartered in Tarrytown, NY. For more information about ENT and Allergy Associates and a complete listing of health plans with which it participates, visit the website at http://www.entandallergy.com
ENT and Allergy Associates LLP
CONTACT: Dean Bender or Geoff Thompson, both of Thompson & Bender, for ENTand Allergy Associates LLP, +1-914-762-1900
Web site: http://www.entandallergy.com/
