Until Thursday afternoon, zoology professor Ann Gettys was unsure if Norman pediatricians would be able treat her 3-year-old son’s chronic lung disease.

She was relieved when she learned that both of her son’s current doctors have signed a contract to accept BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma’s BlueLincs HMO plan.

At 4:17 p.m. Thursday afternoon, a mass mailing was sent to all benefits-eligible employees of the university stating that all eight Norman pediatricians agreed to contract with the BlueLincs HMO.

“I’m happy that they came on board and I just wish that they would have done it sooner,” Gettys said.

Additionally, the e-mail stated that the benefits enrollment deadline was extended until midnight on Monday from the original Sunday deadline.

The benefits enrollment period began Nov. 4 and some employees were wary of choosing their coverage without knowing all of the physicians in their specific plan.

The contract negotiation process between BlueCross BlueShield and Norman physicians was not completed until Thursday, said Linda Sponsler, vice president of corporate communication for BCBSOK in an e-mail.

Until Thursday afternoon, there were no Norman pediatricians listed on the HMO plan, and Gettys was having a hard time selecting the proper health care benefits package for her family.

“My main concern was that his pediatricians weren’t on the list,” she said. “My primary physician isn’t on the list, but it’s not a big deal for me to switch.”

OU employees have the choice of between the BlueLincs HMO plan, BlueChoice PPO plan or BlueEdge HCA plan.

An evaluation committee consisting of a cross-section of employees from all OU campuses, human resources and the university’s benefits consultants reviewed proposals from many insurance companies before selecting BlueCross BlueShield, said Nick Kelly, assistant director of OU Human Resources.

“The committee agreed unanimously that BCBSOK provided the best overall value for the University and its employees,” Kelly said in an e-mail. “BCBSOK provided the lowest rates, most comprehensive local and national network of providers, expected level of customer service, and comprehensive wellness programs.”

Sponsler said OU set the dates of the university enrollment period.

“It’s unfair that employees [were] having to make health care decisions with incomplete information,” said Mitchell Peck, sociology professor.

Gettys, who needs the HMO plan to cover the costs of her son’s illness, said she was relieved Thursday that her current doctors have contracted with the BCBSOK HMO plan.

“It was a big sigh of relief when I found out his two doctors were on there,” Gettys said.

Kelly said HMO premiums are lower than PPO premiums.

“Monthly premiums with BCBSOK are around 12 percent lower than what would have been required to retain the current program,” Kelly said.

Peck, who specializes in medical sociology, said the list of health care providers often changes during a benefit year because physician contracts do not always run during the calendar year.

However, he said this is not the case in with the university’s benefits package.

During his 10 years studying medical sociology, Peck said he had never seen an enrollment period begin when the list of providers was not settled.

“They hadn’t signed up any pediatricians at the time of enrollment,” Peck said.

An updated list of HMO specialists and primary care physicians is available at http://hr.ou.edu/benefits/Annual.asp.