Centralia area Afscme Retirees Subchapter 85

10/21/2026

Any patients that are being seen by BJC Healthcare providers for ongoing issues can reach out to their Barnes physicians to ask about transition care/continuing services and see what Barnes says. We need folks to make the ask of Barnes, and let us know if they are rejected. As a reminder, legally Barnes is only required to provide 3 months of extended care beyond the contract termination- but it gives folks a bit more time… and for those cases where Barnes very well may be the only provider, it gives us an opportunity to escalate.

Please let your members know, especially those you know have serious health issues.



Maria Britton-Sipe
Retiree Coordinator
AFSCME IL Retiree Chapter 31
1000 Churchill Road
Springfield, IL 62702
217-788-2800

10/20/2026

Dear AFSCME Retiree,

We have heard from so many of you over the past week regarding your concerns and questions about the abrupt termination of care from providers in the BJC HealthCare system for participants in the Aetna TRAIL plan. According to notices that many of you received, BJC HealthCare, which includes Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University Physicians, has terminated its contract with Aetna TRAIL effective January 1, 2027.

Removing BJC Healthcare from the Aetna TRAIL network will disrupt care for the approximately 5,000 state and university retirees on the state’s TRAIL MAPD plan that have utilized the BJC HealthCare network within just the last six months. There are thousands more that have previously relied on BJC HealthCare or look to BJC HealthCare in the event they face a serious medical condition.

AFSCME immediately contacted Central Management Services (CMS), which administers the state health plan to determine the reason for this irresponsible action. In response to our inquiries, CMS has issued a fact sheet summarizing what they currently know. Click here to review the FAQ:

https://afscme31.org/sites/default/files/2026-10/bjc_healthcare_faq-v1.pdf

We do not believe that this is a sufficient response and have urged CMS to take additional steps to attempt to restore BJC HealthCare to the Aetna network.

You can help by calling your state lawmakers and urging them to call BJC HealthCare and Aetna to press them to work constructively to resolve their differences and restore access to BJC care for all Aetna TRAIL participants. Also urge legislators to reach out to the state department of Central Management Services to express their concerns.

Aetna is claiming that it has sufficient alternative providers available to meet its responsibilities under its contract with the state. However, AFSCME has serious questions as to whether the remaining network meets those standards and we are in the process of researching this matter further.

We understand that it is incredibly stressful and unfair when retirees are caught in the middle of contract disputes between massive health systems and private insurance companies.

Healthcare isn’t just a business. It’s a vital service that comes with ethical obligations. With the healthcare of seniors at stake, it is essential to ensure that all health plan participants have ready access to high-quality care. You can be assured that AFSCME will continue all possible efforts to advance that goal.

In Solidarity,

Maria Britton-Sipe
AFSCME Retiree Coordinator

10/07/2026

Our next meeting is Tuesday, October 13th at 11:30 at the Centralia Elks Lodge, 235 N Locust in Centralia. Park in the back and take the elevator down. Hope to see you there!

10/04/2026

Vicki Spears and I went to visit Sharon Heitkamp yesterday. She’s pretty bruised up but all in all she’s pretty lucky. If anybody wants to send her a card, here is her address:

Sharon Heitkamp
SSM - Good Samaritan Hospital
1 Good Samaritan Way
Room 3104
Mt. Vernon IL 62864

10/01/2026

Our Vice President, Sharon Heitkamp, was in a serious auto accident on September 23rd and was helicoptered to St Louis where she received treatment. Today she is being transferred to Rehab at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon for further treatment. Hopefully she’ll be as good as new soon. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

09/02/2026

Our September meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 8th at 11:30 at the Centralia Elks Lodge, 235 N Locust in Centralia. Hope to see you there!

08/04/2026

Our next Retirees meeting is Tuesday, August 11. 2026, at 11:30 at the Centralia Elks Lodge, 235 N. Locust in Centralia. Hope to see you there!

07/14/2026

As Maria discussed at our meeting, we need to increase pressure against the WISeR pilot project that has brought in AI to approve out-patient procedures for those covered under traditional Medicare in six states.

H.R. 5940: Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act of 2025 now has 42 cosponsors. In addition, Joint Resolution of Disapproval to Repeal WISeR (S.J. Res. 192/ H.J. Res. 187) was introduced and both of our IL Senators have signed on. While 20 Senators have signed on to support S.J. Res 192, we now need to put pressure on members of the House to support H.J. Res 187.

We need to call Rep. Mike Bost and ask that he sign on to H.J. Res 187 and as a co-sponsor to H.R. 5940.

How to Take Action:
You can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to Representative Mike Bost.

Your message: My name is [X], I am an AFSCME retiree from [City, State]. Please co-sponsor H.J. Res 187 and H.R. 5940 to end the CMS from using AI and prior authorization to deny or delay care in traditional Medicare.

Let’s try making these calls every Thursday for the next few weeks

07/14/2026

07/14/2026

We had 65 people attending our AFSCME Retiree meeting today. Maria Britton-Sipe, AFSCME Illinois Retiree Coordinator gave a very informative presentation.