Blue Cross NC and Park Ridge Health pledge to help WNC customers easily find in-network care

 

Mission Health System (Mission Health) canceled its contract to provide in-network care for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) customers effective Oct. 5, 2017. Park Ridge Health has stepped up to offer support and assistance to Blue Cross NC customers seeking in-network care.
 

Park Ridge Health features access to care at its hospital, conveniently located off I-26, exit 44, as well as more than 30 clinical offices throughout Hendersonville, Fletcher, Mills River, South Asheville, East Asheville and Black Mountain. Park Ridge Health’s combined network of more than 250 medical providers includes more than 35 primary care providers and nearly 100 specialists representing more than 30 specialties.

“We want our friends and neighbors across Western North Carolina to know they can count on us to be there for them when they need care from an in-network health care system,” said Jimm Bunch, Park Ridge Health President and CEO. “We know having affordable, high-quality care is important to the people of Western North Carolina, and it’s important to us, too.”

Mission Health has demanded increases in payments that make premiums and out-of-pocket costs even higher for customers. 

“Every other health system in North Carolina is part of our network,” said Mark Werner, Vice President of Provider Network at Blue Cross NC. “Mission Health decided to cancel their contract rather than work with us to slow down rising medical costs.”

After Oct. 5, 2017, Blue Cross NC customers seeking non-emergency care will have to choose an in-network facility, or pay higher prices. The following facilities will be in network after Oct. 5, 2017: 

• Park Ridge Health                                                        Hendersonville, Henderson County
• LifePoint - Harris Regional Hospital                                                Sylva, Jackson County
• LifePoint - Haywood Regional Medical Center                              Clyde, Haywood County
• LifePoint - Frye Regional Hospital                                              Hickory, Catawba County
• Catawba Valley Medical Center                                                  Hickory, Catawba County
• Pardee Hospital                                                           Hendersonville, Henderson County
• Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge-Morganton               Morganton, Burke County
• Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge-Valdese                         Valdese, Burke County
• Watauga Medical Center                                                              Boone, Watauga County

Customers can consider urgent, non-emergency care at in-network, urgent care locations. Most independent physicians in the area also participate in the Blue Cross NC network. Blue Cross NC customers can find urgent care and primary care options in Buncombe and surrounding counties by visiting bcbsnc.com. 

  

Please note: In case of an emergency, Blue Cross NC customers should go to the nearest hospital. Emergency care is always covered as an in-network benefit. Prior authorization is never required for emergency care.

Blue Cross NC customers can visit bcbsnc.com/missionhealth or call the number on their insurance cards for additional information about their options for care in Western North Carolina.

"True Colors" is August show at Asheville Gallery of Art

Asheville Gallery of Art’s August show features the work of Anne Bonnyman and Jane Snyder. While the artists have different artistic styles, the title reflects their shared history singing in the chorus Womansong of Asheville, and the sense of identity each finds in the lyrics to the 1986 song by Cyndi Lauper:

And I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid
To let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow

The show runs August 1-31 during gallery hours, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. The gallery, located at 82 Patton Avenue in Asheville, across from Pritchard Park, will host a reception for the artists on Friday, August 4, from 5-8 p.m. Everyone is cordially invited to stop by.

Anne Bonnyman says the exploration of color has always been a primary motivation for her in painting, both in its application and its relationships. “My work in this show will be a combination of local landscapes and scenes from my travels in other parts of the world. These paintings reflect my fascination with color explored in a variety of contexts. What is ‘true’ about color for me is that it conveys the power of the scene before me.” Bonnyman is a retired Episcopal priest who came to Asheville 6 years ago.

Jane Snyder states, “As an artist, it is not always possible to feel like one’s work truly represents the imagination. But this time, the vision and the imagery emerged through a most gratifying process of paint on paper. This current body of work is a most honest representation of my creative optimism—true colors! It’s a rare moment that I look forward to sharing in the August show.” A well-known teacher of drawing and watercolor living in Asheville, Snyder says, “I can’t decide if I love teaching art more than making art.”

As well as the paintings of the two artists, those of the other 29 gallery members will be on display and for sale through the month of August. For further information about this show, you can contact Asheville Gallery of Art at (828) 251-5796, visit the gallery website at www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com, or go to the gallery Facebook page.

Pardee Hospital Foundation accepting 2017 Women of Hope Award nominations

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 1, 

honorees announced at 20^th Annual Women Helping Women Luncheon

on Friday, Oct. 20

Pardee Hospital Foundation is now accepting nominations for its Women of Hope Award, which will be announced at the 20^th Annual Women Helping Women Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 20 at Blue Ridge Community College. Each year, the Foundation honors at least one woman in the community who has experienced cancer or another serious health condition, and has shared her story of courage and determination. Community members are encouraged to nominate family members, friends and colleagues for this award. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 1. Visit http://pardeehospitalfoundation.org/events/women-helping-women/ to complete a nomination form.

“Our popular Women Helping Women luncheon and Women of Hope Award are back for the 20^th year,” said Kimerly Hinkelman, executive director of Pardee Hospital Foundation. “If you have a woman in your life who has courageously faced a health crisis, I encourage you to nominate her for our Women of Hope Award. At Pardee Hospital Foundation, we are honored to recognize the strength and hope of women in our community through this special award.”

This year’s Women Helping Women keynote speaker is Lee Woodruff, a popular speaker, journalist and author of three best-selling books. Whether she’s sharing wisdom about the health care journey and recovery, or speaking candidly about life and family, she draws on her experiences to connect with the audience. Her trademark humor and down-to-earth manner has made her a popular keynote speaker nationwide.

The Women Helping Women program began in 1998 primarily to help uninsured and under-insured women receive mammograms. The program has expanded over the years to include important screenings to prevent and treat all women’s cancers, heart disease, and other life-threatening medical conditions. As of 2016, Women Helping Women has raised more than $2 million in financial assistance for women in Henderson County. Each ticket sold provides a potentially lifesaving health screening to one woman who otherwise would be unable to afford it.