Sisters of St. Francis, Anthem contract ensures continuum of care for patients

Publication Date: August 31, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Joe Stuteville - St. Francis

317-782-7986 (office)
317-946-9930 (cell)

317-906-0079 (pager)

Joe.Stuteville@ssfhs.org

Maria E. Ramos

Saint Margaret Mercy

219-865-2141, ext. 45321

Maria.Ramos@ssfhs.org

Joe Dejanovic
Saint Anthony Medical Center
219-757-6255
Joe.Dejanovic@ssfhs.org

Ellen Sharpe

Saint Anthony Memorial

219-877-1948

Ellen.Sharpe@ssfhs.org

Tony Felts-Anthem
317-287-6036 (office)
tony.felts@anthem.com

Sisters of St. Francis, Anthem contract ensures
continuum of care for patients

INDIANAPOLIS – The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana today (Aug. 31) announced a new multiyear contract that will maintain in-network healthcare benefits for policyholders and employer groups throughout Indiana.

The previous contract was set to expire Sept. 1.

The agreement covers the following SSFHS medical facilities and physicians:

· Saint Anthony Medical Center (Crown Point)
· Saint Anthony Memorial Health Center (Michigan City)
· Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers (Hammond)
· Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers (Dyer)
· Franciscan Physicians Hospital (Munster)
· St. Clare Medical Center (Crawfordsville)
· St. Elizabeth Regional Health (Lafayette)
· Home Hospital (Lafayette)
· St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers (Indianapolis)
· St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers (Beech Grove)
· St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers (Mooresville)
· Indiana Bone and Marrow Transplantation Unit (Beech Grove)
· 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.”

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About the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc.Headquartered in Mishawaka, Ind., the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services is a network of 13 growing hospital campuses in Indiana and Illinois and is one of the largest healthcare systems in the state. The system’s healthcare ministry in Indiana was established in 1875. SSFHS employs more than 16,000 individuals in its healthcare ministries. More information about SSFHS is at http://www.ssfhs.org/.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is available at http://www.anthem.com/.

Giving, even when it hurts

Bereaved mother reaches through her grief to benefit

Saint Anthony prenatal assistance program

Donna Marsh lost her pregnant daughter, her son-in-law and their unborn child in a motorcycle-van accident in November.
It is a memory many people would want to repress.

But not Marsh, who is planning the first of what she hopes will become an annual fund-raising event to remember her daughter, Kayla Dawn King-Schneegas, by raising awareness and helping other expectant mothers, through the Saint Anthony Medical Center Prenatal Assistance Program.

“I wanted to give back, in honor of my daughter, for the community outpouring of support we received,” Marsh said. “The Prenatal Assistance Program was very helpful; the first time the nurse came to visit Kayla at home, she offered to put Kayla on the waiting list for a crib, but we already had one. That is what drew me to the program – the thought of expectant mothers on the waiting list for a bed for their babies. Times are hard with the economy and stuff, so I wanted to do something to help.”

Marsh, of Lake Village, will do just that on Sept. 26, when an All Vehicle Memorial Ride & Car Show for Kayla and William Kayl (the unborn child’s name) will be conducted, starting with a Memorial Ride, at 10 a.m. at Bar 10 in Roselawn. That will be followed by a car show from 1 to 5 p.m. and a dance starting at 4 p.m., at the Shelby Lions Club. There will be live music, food, cash bar, raffles and auctions.

“Proceeds from this event are going in memory of these angels to the Prenatal Assistance Program serving Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties, to help needy families with cribs, diapers, formula and other necessities,” Marsh said. “I hope to do this every year. My goal is to take care of everyone on the prenatal waiting list.”

She also plans a special commemoration for families. “A headstone will be donated to a family that has lost a loved one due to an illegal driver or has lost a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or Shaken Baby Syndrome,” Marsh added.

Marsh’s daughter and her husband, William Schneegas, were riding on his motorcycle Nov. 2 when it was involved in a crash with a van in Parr, which is not far from Rensselaer. The couple, who had been married just 16 days, lived in Mt. Ayr.

Kathryn Copak, manager of the Prenatal Assistance Program, was moved by Marsh’s desire to help others. “It’s not often that someone will come to you and offer to raise funds for a community program, no matter how deserving. Donna is striving to work through her grief by focusing on helping others,” Copak said. “We always hope that we’re helping to make a positive difference in the lives and pregnancies of women we visit and counsel, so it’s great that Donna is showing her appreciation by assisting us in supporting other pregnant women like her daughter.”

IF YOU GO
Memorial Ride registration begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 26 at Bar 10, which is located eight miles east of U.S. 41 on Ind. 10, or two miles west of Interstate 65 on Ind. 10. Cost is $15 for vehicle and driver. Passengers will cost an additional $5 or a donation of a pack of baby wipes. Cost includes entry to the dance and food.

The car show will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Shelby Lion’s Club, 902 W. 235th Ave. Line-up begins at 11:30 a.m. Entry fee will be $10, or a package of diapers, any size newborn, to size four. Fee includes entry to the dance and food. The dance will begin at 4 p.m. at the club.

For more information or to make a donation, call Donna Marsh at (219) 306-1610.

ABOUT THE PRENATAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Saint Anthony Medical Center Prenatal Assistance program, which was established in 2002, provides free assistance for expectant Northwest Indiana mothers who have limited family income.
Services include:
* Free pregnancy testing.
* Referral and assistance with accessing community and hospital resources.
* Nutritional and pregnancy-related education.
* Regular and supportive contacts during pregnancy.
* Mother and infant care teaching after delivery.
* A clothing closet for expectant mother and baby needs.

The program, previously offered at the former Crown Point Clinic, 1121 S. Indiana Ave., has temporarily relocated to Saint Anthony-North Point, 2050 N. Main St., in anticipation of plans to build a new, permanent location for the Prenatal Assistance program, and for the St. Clare Health Clinic, on the Indiana Avenue site. The expansion is being financed by the Saint Anthony Medical Center Capital Campaign, which is seeking to raise $4.5 million, including matching funds from a private donor, by the end of next year for the effort.

Prenatal Assistance Program hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. For more information, call (219) 663-5349.

Circle Plans 2 Events to Assist Saint Anthony Capital Campaign

CROWN POINT - Circle Restaurant and Bar is planning a double dose of generosity Aug. 25 and 29 to benefit the Saint Anthony Medical Center Capital Campaign, and, in turn, underprivileged area residents.

On Aug. 25, John and Ronda Dessauer, who have owned the restaurant since 2005, are hosting their second fund-raiser to benefit the campaign. They have pledged, as they did with the first event on Jan. 27, to donate one-half of the day’s proceeds to benefit the campaign, which began last February and seeks to raise $4.5 million by the end of 2010 to provide funds for construction of a new complex to house St. Clare Health Clinic and the Prenatal Assistance program, both of which provide free services to underprivileged or uninsured area residents.

So far nearly $2 million, half of which is matched by a private donor, has been raised. The campaign is Saint Anthony’s first since it opened in 1974.

On Aug. 29, Circle Restaurant and Bar’s Fifth Annual Golf Outing at Pheasant Valley Golf Course in Crown Point also will benefit the campaign, which will receive the day’s full proceeds.
“We always choose a local organization to benefit from the outing and this year decided to go with Saint Anthony for a while,” John Dessauer said, adding, “Saint Anthony has always played a role in the community as a cornerstone for people seeking medical attention and who are concerned about health.” About 40 players participated in last year’s outing.

Ronda Dessauer called the Circle’s efforts a win-win situation, adding they benefit the restaurant, and the campaign. “The last event (Jan. 27) was so successful because of the increased business and the funds that we were able to give back to the community,” she said.

Warren Johnson, director of development for Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Northern Indiana Region, said he appreciates the Dessauers’ once again stepping up to help the cause.
“As we anticipate final approval to begin building a new St. Clare Health Clinic, loyal donors John and Ronda Dessauer are renewing their fund-raising efforts to help us raise the money needed for this new clinic. With their help and that of others, we will reach our goal,” Johnson said.

The Dessauers’ lead has been followed by Conservative Café, 201 N. Main St., and Ponderosa steak house, 1498 N. Main St., both of which have conducted fund-raisers to benefit the campaign.

Circle Restaurant and Bar is located at 110 S. Court St. For more information, or to register for the golf outing, call Jodi Gleason at (219) 661-0101.