“I think it’s a good start,” said Denice Thomason, a Student Activities accounting clerk III. “I don’t think we should ever stop looking at the possibility of adding more. It’s in the best interest of all employees to continually update those lists. Doctors change; you may have one drop off, and you need to add another one.”

Employees learned last month that one of the university’s two health insurance plans, Texas Universities Health Plan, does not have the same list of doctors for the 2000-2001 period that it offered this year. Of 67 family, internal medicine and general practice doctors in Arlington who were on the plan this year, 51 were not listed in the plan’s new network book given to employees in late June. Of the 51, several doctors practice through Family Health Care Associates, a family practice center in Arlington.

Benefits Supervisor Yvette Rodriguez released an updated list of doctors Monday who have been added to the plan’s network list for the upcoming benefits period, including those from Family Health Care Associates. Thirty-four doctors were added after employees submitted names to Rodriguez, who forwarded the nominations to North Texas Health Care Network.

Previously, Family Health Care Associates’ doctors were not on the list because not all of them had signed contracts with North Texas Health Care Network.

Rodriguez said getting doctors added to the list before the enrollment period ends was crucial.

“[Employees] only have until Friday to make their insurance decision — if they’re going to be on TUHP or UT Select,” she said. “Well, if your doctor is on UT Select and is not on TUHP, you may not take TUHP because your doctor is not on it. That’s why there’s such a push to get these doctors on there now.”

Thomason said she was pleased with North Texas Health Care Network’s willingness to assist employees here. But for others, like Student Activities secretary Gayle Scott, the new list isn’t helping. Scott’s primary care physician from the previous plan is not on it.

“It bothers me that I have to try to find another doctor,” she said. “I like him, and we just had to change two years ago, you know, because they dropped Kaiser. And I had a doctor there that I just loved.”

She said she’ll speak with Human Resources to try to get her doctor added.

Pam Lennon, who manages the plan’s account for North Texas Health Care Network, said negotiations are also underway with Cook Children’s Hospital.

She encouraged employees with special circumstances to complete a transition form, which is available through the Human Resources office, 212 J.D. Wetsel Service Building.

Rodriguez said a third-trimester pregnancy is an example of a special circumstance that warrants an out-of-network exemption. For example, a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy whose physician is not on her health plan’s new network list may be able to get an exemption allowing her to pay in-network co-payments. 

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