May 6, 2003

Dear Colleagues,

Johns Hopkins Medicine has been proud to provide for the health and well-being of generations of Bethlehem Steel employees, retirees and their families. Many of you have established relationships with these patients and have developed coordinated plans of care for them. We share your concerns - and theirs -- about maintaining these relationships now that Bethlehem Steel retirees have lost their health insurance, and we have put mechanisms into place to assist these patients.

Retirees have several options depending on their age. The majority are over 65, for instance, and are Medicare eligible. For those under 65, options are more challenging. Nonetheless, our staff, in particular the outpatient and inpatient financial counselors, are prepared to guide them during this transition of their health insurance coverage.

We are committed to following these patients until such issues are resolved.

Sincerely,