Progress being made towards Gundersen and Mayo agreement

Winneshiek Medical Center Board members were told Wednesday evening that progress is being made in talks between Gundersen and Mayo officials about having the Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan accepted as an in-network provider at Winneshiek Medical Center.

The two sides started talking in April, based on direction from the hospital board and public feedback.

Chief Administrative Officer of Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse Ron Paczkowski said at Wednesday's meeting "there's some progress to report." After trading letters in June, Mayo and Gundersen officials sat down in La Crosse on Monday for a follow-up meeting.  Paczkowski said Gundersen agreed to admit Winneshiek Medical Center and Decorah Clinic providers as in-network for Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan, meaning GLHP enrollees wouldn't have to pay a higher deductible to go to the hospital or clinic. Gundersen agreed to several other coverage proposals by Mayo.

But to Mayo's suggestion that Gundersen Lutheran reestablish some trust between the two bodies by committing to use Winneshiek Medical Center for CT scans and MRIds, inpatient services such as transitional care and outpatient services such as rehab therapies and hospice, Gundersen Lutheran responded "We don't believe these are reasonable requests."  Instead, Gundersen Lutheran Senior Vice President Jerry Arndt assured the hospital board that Gundersen and its doctors want the hospital to be successful and want to help make the hospital successful.

Hospital board member Rick Burras responded that "Finances drive the medical center."  He said he wanted to see usage figures, not promises.  Arndt responded that "what we're trying to do is to get this done once and for all."

So there is some significant progress being made in the talks--but also some significant hurdles remaining.  The two sides say they will continue their conversations.