The stakes cannot be higher for Boston’s Tufts Medical Center.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been reading how rival Partners HealthCare, comprised of powerhouse hospitals Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals, have bullied health insurers into disproportionally higher payments.
I have argued it is because patients demand their services.
Now, Tufts Medical Center is attempting to play the same game, announcing they are no longer accepting the state’s largest insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO.
As always, patients will determine whether this gambit is successful. If they continue to demand Tufts care, they will switch insurers, forcing Blue Cross’ hand. If not, then the hospital will lose and acquiesce to the lower payments. It’s as simple as that, and this is the beginning of a public relations war that will be decided by advertising dollars.
Does Tufts have the cachet of a MGH or Brigham? My gut says no, since they don’t have the name appeal of the Partners brand.
