Officials answer questions about merger

Here are answers to some of the question arising from Friday's announcement that Wichita Clinic will become part of Via Christi Health.

* Will I have to change doctors if I want to go to Wesley Medical Center and not Via Christi?

Via Christi and Wichita Clinic officials say no.

"Patients will continue to have preference, and we will continue to honor those preferences," said Robert Kenagy, Wichita Clinic's chief medical officer.

* What if my Wichita Clinic doctor refers me to a specialist or service not offered by Via Christi?

Kevin Conlin, CEO of Via Christi Health, said whether it is patient preference, an insurance requirement or a situation that another provider offers a service or has a specialist that Via Christi doesn't, its physicians won't force their patients to use a Via Christi hospital.

* Don't health insurance companies require me to go to a specific hospital?

Gary Hardman, a health insurance and benefits broker for businesses, said that unlike in past years, most of the area's major health insurers no longer require patients to go to a specific hospital.

"I have some (clients) that don't have the option," Hardman said. "But that list is getting smaller and smaller every month."

This story was originally published November 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Officials answer questions about merger."