An insurance plan designed to provide coverage to low-income families has changed its contract, which will result in restricted access to specialists at Boston Children's Hospital, according to the Boston Globe.
Neighborhood Health Plan, a division of Boston-based Partners HealthCare, has altered its contract, leading its members on Medicaid to either find new specialists outside of Children's or join a new health plan, according to the report. Neighborhood officials said the change was made because they can't afford the rates at Children's.
The change of policy comes at a critical time for Children's, which has decided to move forward with a controversial $1.5 billion expansion plan that will be built over the ProutyGarden, which has served as a restful sanctuary for sick and dying children and their families.
According to hospital executives, Children's does provide care to children on Medicaid. The hospital loses at least $100 million a year because not all costs are reimbursed, according to the report.