Health-care coalition, hospital operator reach new contract deal

A health-care coalition representing about 275,000 Southern Nevadans and a major hospital operator reached agreement Friday on a new contract, according to a joint press release issued Monday, about nine hours before a negotiation deadline.

The Health Services Coalition and Hospital Corporation of America announced that they have secured a three-year contract, effective Tuesday, allowing coalition members to continue paying in-network rates at HCA facilities.

HCA owns Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Sunrise Children’s Hospital, Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center, MountainView Hospital and four surgical clinics in Southern Nevada.

The two groups were operating on an extended contract scheduled to expire at midnight Monday. Details on the agreed-to rates in the contract are confidential, but “it was a fair deal for both parties,” coalition co-chairwoman Stacie Sasso said in a statement.

“The coalition is pleased that after weeks of good-faith bargaining we were able to successfully reach a negotiated contract settlement that results in an equitable solution for all, including working families,” Sasso said in the news release.

HCA Far West Division Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development Rob Dyer said the company was also happy to resolve the matter.

“Our caregivers just want to provide the finest in quality, compassionate health care to patients, many of whom in this case are first responders and their families,” he said.

The coalition previously accused HCA of negotiation stall tactics and an unreasonable rate hike request.

The group in early February complained that the hospital operator refused to extend the contract again to provide additional time for negotiations. It also attacked the Tennessee-based company for “siphoning” money out of Nevada and back to Nashville.

Dyer responded that HCA refused another contract extension because it didn’t want to be in negotiations in perpetuity, apparently referencing a dispute between the coalition and Dignity Health — St. Rose Dominican Hospitals.

“Their last negotiations with a local health care provider went on for two years,” he previously said.

Dignity Health, which was out of network for coalition members while the two groups negotiated, rejoined the network Jan. 1.

Some Culinary union members were alerted to news of the coalition’s agreement with HCA via a celebratory text message Monday. The message referred to the new deal as a victory.

Culinary members and other groups affected by the HCA negotiations picketed in front of Sunrise on Feb. 18 at a rally that drew media attention and involved quick visits by Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Sunrise is the primary hospital choice for about 50 percent of the Culinary Health Fund’s members who live in or near the hospital, Culinary spokeswoman Bethany Khan said.

“The Culinary union is paying close attention to rising health care costs and we continue to be involved in issues that affect over 145,000 Culinary Health Fund participants — including keeping quality healthcare affordable and accessible,” union Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Arguello-Kline said in a statement.

Member groups of the coalition were notified Friday night of the agreement and began alerting members as early as Saturday, Sasso said.

Contact Pashtana Usufzy at pusufzy@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4563. Find her on Twitter: @pashtana_u.