Gundersen representatives comment about the GL Health Plan decision

Posted: Wed, Sep 1, 2010 5:06 PM

The Winneshiek Medical Center Board of Trustees cut off public discussion of the decision to reject Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan's application for full participation with the hospital.

However, Gundersen Lutheran Decorah Clinic manager Trudy Belay issued a statement to local news media following Wednesday's decision:

1. Thanks to the board members for their time and thoughtful consideration of this matter.

2. We are disappointed in the board's decision to not participate in the Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan.

3. We continue to have difficulty understanding their decision and their concern with steerage away from WMC. All Mayo Decorah primary care providers as well as specialty providers in their clinic would be considered "in network" with Gundersen Lutheran's latest proposal.

4. As a result of the board's decision, we will now need to take another look at our long term plans as we continue to take good care of our patients.

5. We were pleased to hear the ongoing support of a relationship with Gundersen Lutheran physicians and we hope that continues. We will also continue to collaborate with WMC whenever possible in the future.

In response to a question raised by WMC board members, Belay said it was true that Gundersen rejected a WMC proposal to extend full coverage only to Gundersen Lutheran employees and not to all Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan participants. "We stand with our patients," she said, explaining that the employees did not want a situation in which they could use the hospital but other GLHP participants could not.