19K patients affected in dispute between Regence BlueShield Washington and Optum-owned Everett Clinic

Thousands of patients will be left out-of-network if Regence BlueShield of Washington and Optum-owned The Polyclinic and The Everett Clinic do not reach an agreement by Dec. 19, The Seattle Times reported Nov. 28. 

Regence Blue Shield notified its members earlier this month of the looming deadline, the newspaper reported. The payer told customers Optum decided to leave Regence Blue Shield's network, after asking for an "unprecedented increase" in reimbursement rates. 

The Everett Herald reported Optum asked the payer for a 14.75 percent increase in negotiated rates. This number has not been confirmed by Optum, according to The Seattle Times. 

"When providers demand unsustainable rate increases to provide care, our members and customers pay more out of pocket," a spokesperson for Regence Blue Shield told The Seattle Times

Representatives for The Polyclinic and the Everett Clinic told the newspaper the providers "remain hopeful" an agreement will be reached with the payer before the Dec. 19 deadline.

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