HR News

Update on Negotiations Between Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and Area Providers

I am writing to let you know that FamilyCare Medical Group and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (Excellus) have reached a new agreement after concluding negotiations last night.

This news follows the message you received from me last week sharing that WellNow is back in-network. This means that both WellNow Urgent Care and FamilyCare Medical Group services will be in network for any medical services provided to you. Together, these are two positive developments for our employees and their families.

Negotiations continue between Excellus and St. Joseph’s Health. We continue to urge both parties to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

I will continue to provide updates should there be further developments. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

For more information, visit the University’s FAQs to understand more about the ongoing provider negotiations and how it may impact you.

Public Health Message From Dr. Karen Nardella

As we head into the cold and flu season, we are seeing an increase in cases of various respiratory illnesses and other seasonal ailments. These include COVID, strep throat, atypical pneumonia “walking pneumonia,” sinus infections, common colds and other viral and bacterial illnesses.

Contract Negotiations Between Excellus and Local Medical Providers

As many of you are aware, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (Excellus) is in contract discussions with both FamilyCare Medical Group (FCMG) and St. Joseph’s Health. If you have physicians associated with either FCMG or St. Joseph’s, you may have received a letter notifying you that these providers will be considered out-of-network if an agreement is not reached by Jan. 1, 2025. I recognize this is causing concern among some in our campus community.

It’s important to know that the University is not privy to the contract terms and negotiations between Excellus and providers, nor can we control a provider’s decision to participate in any network. However, I want to give you every assurance that we are closely monitoring the situation, discussing options with other large, local employers and in regular communication with Excellus. I have personally expressed my concerns to Excellus leadership and urged them to reach a resolution quickly and in a manner that is favorable to our faculty and staff.

If these providers make the decision to no longer participate with Excellus, they will be considered “out-of-network.” If you have health insurance through the University, here is what that would mean for you:

  • If you are enrolled in the SUBlue or SUPro health plans, your services from either provider will still be covered, but as out-of-network, which means you will generally pay higher out-of-pocket costs.
  • If you are enrolled in the SUOrange health plan, your services from either provider will not be covered and you will be responsible for paying the entire cost of the visit out-of-pocket.

During our upcoming upcoming Open Enrollment period later this month, you will have the opportunity to review your health plan options and consider moving to SUBlue or SUPro to ensure you have access to out-of-network coverage. In addition, we have arranged for Excellus representatives to be available on campus to meet and assist faculty and staff with their personal questions. Dates and locations will be announced during Open Enrollment, which is planned for Oct. 28-Nov. 8. Expect an email from me next week with more information and instructions about Open Enrollment, including a link to the Open Enrollment website.

As a reminder, Syracuse University operates as a self-insured health plan, which means that we pay for all medical claims, costs and fees. Faculty and staff share in the cost of the health plan in the form of deductibles, copays, coinsurance and paycheck contributions. As health care costs continue to outpace the general rate of inflation, we know it’s never been more important to manage costs through favorable and appropriate provider contract agreements.

This is why we will continue to advocate on behalf of our faculty and staff. I remain hopeful that agreements will be reached soon. Additional information and resources can be found on our HR website. If you have additional questions, please reach out to HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

Important Information About Syracuse University’s Health Plan Coverage of Services Provided by FamilyCare Medical Group and St. Joseph’s Health

The University is aware that both FamilyCare Medical Group (FCMG) and St. Joseph’s Health have separately notified their patients, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (Excellus BCBS) and the community that they intend to leave Excellus BCBS’s network effective Jan. 1, 2025, if agreements are not reached. 

While the University is not privy to the contract terms and negotiations between Excellus BCBS and providers, nor can it control a provider’s decision to participate in any network, it has expressed concerns to Excellus BCBS, and is hopeful all parties are able to reach mutually agreed upon contracts.

It is important to note that Syracuse University self-insures its health plans to the benefit of its employees. As a self-insured health plan, the University pays for all medical claims costs and fees, effectively acting as its own insurer. Faculty and staff share in the cost of the health plan in the form of deductibles, copays, coinsurance and paycheck contributions.

As health care costs continue to outpace the general rate of inflation, controlling costs through favorable and appropriate provider contract agreements helps keep University and member costs down and has never been more important. 

The University remains optimistic that agreements will be reached soon and will continue to encourage a positive resolution for all. Included below is important information for those who are enrolled in the University’s health plan and receive services from either FCMG or St. Joseph’s Health:  

  • Through Dec. 31, 2024, FCMG and St. Joseph’s Health remain in the Excellus BCBS network and any eligible claims will continue to be covered as in-network, with the applicable deductible, copay or coinsurance applied. If you receive a bill from FCMG or St. Joseph’s Health for a service in 2024, please review it carefully and make sure that it has been submitted to Excellus BCBS first. If your bill does not show Excellus BCBS paying any portion of the bill, please contact the University’s dedicated Excellus BCBS customer care team at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220).
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2025, if either FCMG or St. Joseph’s Health are no longer in Excellus BCBS’s network, they will be considered an out-of-network provider. If you are enrolled in the SUBlue or SUPro health plans, eligible services provided by either provider will be processed as an out-of-network claim, but you will generally be responsible for higher out-of-pocket costs and you may need to submit your claim to Excellus BCBS for processing. If you are enrolled in the SUOrange health plan, which has no out-of-network coverage, services will not be covered by the plan, and you will pay the full cost of the visit. You can find more information about the plans’ in-network and out-of-network cost sharing on the health plan webpage.

Should an agreement not be reached, Excellus BCBS is committed to helping employees with health coverage through the University to identify alternative in-network providers that are accepting new patients. 

  • MDLIVE is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even on holidays, to provide in-network care for non-emergency medical or behavioral health conditions. Board-certified doctors and licensed therapists treat a wide range of conditions and generally can prescribe medications. For more information, please visit the MDLIVE webpage.
  • Members can access the Excellus BCBS 24/7 Nurse Line at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220). Specially trained registered nurses from Excellus BCBS can provide support and education for members with chronic or complex health conditions, or provide answers to more general health questions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • If you would like to learn more about in-network providers, call the University’s dedicated customer care team at Excellus BCBS by calling 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220). Members can also visit their website to locate care options.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to the HR Shared Services team at 315.443.4042.

Academic Year Office Hours Resume Aug. 26

Syracuse University academic year office hours will resume Monday, Aug. 26. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Offices have been operating on summer hours since May 13.

If you have any questions, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Crucial Conversations/Crucial Influence Programs to Be Offered This Summer

Crucial Conversations, a popular professional development workshop series for faculty and staff, will be offered in person beginning later this month. Crucial Influence, an offering for leaders, supervisors and managers from the creators of Crucial Conversations, is also being held again this summer.

2024 Summer Office Hours

Summer office hours for Syracuse University will begin on Monday, May 13, and will be in effect through Friday, Aug. 23. Summer office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Academic-year hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 26.

If you have any questions, please contact Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

Faculty, Staff Invited to Participate in This Year’s ‘On My Own Time’ Celebration

The University is pleased to announce its participation in “On My Own Time”—a celebration of local visual arts that highlights the often-unsung artists who create art on their own time.

This year is the 51st anniversary of this program, organized by CNY Arts, and faculty and staff are invited to showcase their talents along with other employers and businesses in the region.

Deadline for 2023 Flexible Spending Account Reimbursement is April 30

For faculty and staff who had a flexible spending account (FSA) through Syracuse University in 2023, the deadline to submit eligible expenses from the previous calendar year (Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023) for reimbursement is Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Additionally, up to $610 in unused funds from 2023 may be rolled over to a health care FSA for use in 2024. No funds may be carried over to the following calendar year for the dependent care account.