Health care fight weighs on patients

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexican's insured by Lovelace Health Plan are frantically trying to find new doctors or new insurance after Lovelace announced it is severing ties with ABQ Health Partners.

The end of the contract means all people who have doctors through ABQ Health Partners will have to find a new doctor or they won't be covered

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Lovelace insurees filled the ballroom of an Albuquerque hotel Monday trying to get their questions answered.

Most worry about continuing care after undergoing major operations. Others are concerned about leaving the doctor they've seen for the last 30 years.

"I just had a pacemaker installed, and I am really concerned about continuity of care and cardiology," said Lynessa Gallagher. "What am I going to do?"

Lovelace says it is working to place patients with new doctors within their system.

While patients worry that so many doctors already have more patients then they can handle, Lovelace says they will find doctors for the affected patients. They say that providers have stepped forward saying they will make room.

Other patients say they will not leave their doctors and will instead find a new health plan. Not so easy for everyone.

If a person's employer doesn't have open enrollment going on right now, which allows them to switch providers, patients will be stuck with Lovelace for the time being.

Lovelace and ABQ Health Partners have different explanations about the split. Patients say they don't care.

They just want to know how this affects them.

Lovelace will be holding two more public town halls this week to answer patients' questions.

They're providing one-on-one consultation for patients to help them make the transition.