LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana inked a new multi-year contract on August 31st, one day ahead of the September 1st expiration date on the previous contract. This new agreement will maintain in-network health care benefits for policyholders and employer groups throughout Indiana.

Health insurance plans covered are Anthem Blue Access PPO, Anthem Blue Preferred HMO, Anthem Traditional, Anthem Medicare Advantage PPO, Lumenos, Hoosier Healthwise (Indiana Medicaid) and Anthem Healthy Indiana Plan.

The agreement covers the following SSFHS medical facilities and physicians:

• St. Elizabeth Regional Health in Lafayette;
• Home Hospital in Lafayette;
• St. Clare Medical Center in Crawfordsville;
• St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers in Indianapolis;
• St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers in Beech Grove;
• St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers in Mooresville;
• St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point;
• St. Anthony Memorial Health Center in Michigan City;
• St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond;
• St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Dyer;
• Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster;
• Indiana Bone and Marrow Transplantation Unit in Beech Grove; and
• More than 300 physicians throughout the SSFHS service areas.

Health insurance plans covered are Anthem Blue Access PPO, Anthem Blue Preferred HMO, Anthem Traditional, Anthem Medicare Advantage PPO, Lumenos, Hoosier Healthwise (Indiana Medicaid) and Anthem Healthy Indiana Plan.

“We recognize how difficult this has been for our patients and appreciate their support and patience during the negotiations,” said Jay Brehm, SSFHS regional chief financial officer and chief negotiator for the hospital system. “The agreement we have forged, in the end, ensures our mission to provide patients with the timely and compassionate care they expect and deserve.”

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Sisters of St. Francis Health Services because it ensures that our customers will have uninterrupted, in-network access to medical care at SSFHS facilities across Indiana,” said David Lee, M.D., vice president of health services for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “This contract achieves our number one goal of keeping health care affordable for our members.”

LAFAYETTE, Ind. -– Based on a ruling yesterday (March 30) from the Marion County Superior Court-Civil Division in Indianapolis, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will continue to recognize facilities operated by the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services (SSFHS), including St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Home Hospital, as in-network until the contracts between Anthem and SSFHS expire Sept. 1, 2009.

Although Anthem had sought to terminate the contracts early, the court ruling means that members of Anthem health plans can continue to receive in-network services at SSFHS facilities after May 1. The hospitals include St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers in Beech Grove, Indianapolis and Mooresville; St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Home Hospital in Lafayette; St. Clare Medical Center in Crawfordsville; St. Anthony Memorial Health Centers in Michigan City; St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point; St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond and Dyer; and Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster.

The current Anthem-SSFHS contracts expire Sept. 1, 2009 with the exception of St. Elizabeth Regional Health’s contract which will continue at least through Dec. 31, 2009.

But leaders from both organizations emphasized they are committed to continuing contracts talks and securing a new long-term agreement to ensure that Anthem-insured patients receive in-network benefits at the highest level of care at all SSFHS hospitals.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and the Spirit of Women are continuing an educational offering for new moms in the Greater Lafayette area.

The weekly “New Moms Tea” will launch with its spring series at 1:00p on Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, located inside the Medical Arts Building at 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette on the Home Hospital campus.

The series allows new and expecting moms an opportunity to learn in a relaxed environment.

New Mom Tea offers Greater Lafayette new mothers an opportunity to learn in a relazed environment.

Upcoming topics and speakers include:

• Feb. 19: “Infant Message” by Deb Baker, an occupational therapist with St. Elizabeth Physical/Occupational Therapy.
• Feb. 26: “You Are What You Eat” by Renee Kidder, R.D., CSP, a dietitian with St. Elizabeth Regional Health.
• March 5: “Your Baby’s First Year” by Deb Baker, an occupational therapist with St. Elizabeth Physical/Occupational Therapy.
• March 12: “Music and Your Baby” by Rebecca Colby, M.A., MT-BC, NMT-certified music therapist.
• March 19: “Keeping Calm: Yoga for Mom and Baby” by Jacqueline Nelson, 500 PYT, RYT, HC, a yoga instructor. For this session, moms should come dressed to exercise.
• March 26: “The Low Down on Breastfeeding” by Renee Kidder, R.D., CSP, a dietitian with St. Elizabeth Regional Health.
• April 2: “Finding Fitness as Part of Your New Lifestyle” by Laura Wegener, M.S., a physical therapist with St. Elizabeth Physical/Occupational Therapy.
• April 9: “Baby Talk: Speech and Language Development” by Glenda Chambers, M.S., CCC/SLP, a speech therapist with St. Elizabeth Speech Therapy.
• April 16: “Sex and the New Mom” by Catherine Sam, M.D., an OB/GYN with the Woman’s Clinic.
• April 23: “The Skinny on Skin to Skin Contact” by Pam Smith, R.N., director of Home Hospital’s Postpartum Unit.
• April 30: “How Hormones Affect Our Moods as New Moms” by Denise Seeger, an educator with the Kathryn Weil Center for Education.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and St. Elizabeth Regional Health are members of the Spirit of Women, a national coalition of hospitals and health care providers that pledge to provide the highest standards of excellence in women’s health, education and community outreach.

All sessions are free, but registration is required and can be made by calling the center at (765) 449-5133.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Babysitting is more than just diapering a baby, which is why the Kathryn Weil Center for Education is offering a babysitting course to help prepare babysitters age 10-14 with information on general childcare, diapering and meals; first aid and safety; creative playtime activities; and emergency response.

The course will run from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education. Class fee is $15.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education is located in the Medical Arts Building, 415 N. 26th St., suite 400 on the campus of Home Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana.

To register or for more information, call the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133.