EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Some El Paso families are raising concerns after a local clinic announced it will no longer accept traditional insurance, a change that could affect children living with chronic conditions and force families to pay out of pocket or travel hours for care.
For Brianna Reese, managing diabetes is already part of daily life for both her and her 10-year-old son, Rockwell Reese.
Reese said finding medical care is now becoming the hardest part.
10-year-old Rockwell Reese, Type 1 diabetic. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
“For El Paso you would think that there would be more options for us,” Reese said. “It’s really hard to find care and I thought it would be so much easier and it’s not.”
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Reese said her son has been receiving specialized care for Type 1 diabetes from pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Sanjeet Sandhu at Dr. Hector Granado’s office.
Reese said appointments were previously covered by insurance, with a $30 copay.
But Reese said that is about to change as the clinic shifts away from traditional insurance.
“He’s you know disappointed because he has a good relationship with him when we go to the office we’re in and out within 30 minutes and Dr. Sandhu gives him attention he asks him the questions he doesn’t you know direct him to me,” Reese said. “And now to think that you know if I want to continue seeing him I have to pay $1,800 a year.”
Brianna Reese searching for nearest pediatric endocrinologist. (Credit; KFOX14/CBS4)
According to Granado’s website, the clinic is shifting to a direct patient care payment system and will no longer accept traditional insurance.
Instead, it is moving to a cash-only membership model.
Under the new pricing listed, patients pay $350 for a new patient consultation. The clinic also lists monthly membership plans of either $50 or $150 a month, or $1,800 for a year.
“I couldn’t even pay out of pocket if I wanted to the only unless I joined the membership,” Reese said.
Updated pricing for Dr. Hector Granados office. (Credit: Dr.Granados.com)
According to any email sent to Reese, Dr. Granados office is still accepting Medicaid patients however not private insurance.
Reese said the cost could be out of reach for many families.
“For other families, like $150 is, you know, they’re electric bill. So it’s, I don’t know, it’s a lot,” she said.
Reese said that even with insurance, the nearest pediatric endocrinologist is more than four hours away. As she scrolled through options on her phone, she listed doctors in Tucson and Albuquerque.
KFOX14/CBS4 reached out to several hospitals and private medical practices across El Paso.
The Hospitals of Providence in a statement tells KFOX14/CBS4:
As across the nation, access to specialized physician specialists remains a critical need also in our region, particularly in highly specialized fields such as pediatric endocrinology. We are always working to recruit physicians and subspecialists to serve the needs of our community and to help ensure families and loved ones have access to the care they need close to home.El Paso currently has 2 pediatric endocrinologistsPhysicians are on our medical staff however not employed by the hospital
Meantime, for Reese, the biggest concern is ensuring her son continues getting the care he needs.
“As a parent any medical diagnosis is scary and you don’t know how it’s going to affect their life,” she said. “Just finding a local doctor it makes it really hard.”
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Reese said families like hers are left searching for answers and hoping more providers will step in to fill the gap.
“I can find another mom to talk to you, but I can’t find a doctor to go to…kind of sucks,” she said.
KFOX14/CBS4 is scheduled to speak with Dr. Hector Granado on Saturday to discuss the changes at his clinic and the reasoning behind the move.
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