6 recently inked payer-provider contracts

Six payer-provider contracts Becker's has reported since Nov. 21: 

1. A Tenet spokesperson confirmed to Becker's that Centene and the Dallas-based health system signed an in-network contract for Sept. 30, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2026. Centene had issued a notice of termination for its contract with Tenet over reimbursement rates, a move that would have impacted 3 million members nationwide.

2. Partnership HealthPlan of California and Fairfield, Calif.-based NorthBay Health reached a contract that will keep the nonprofit healthcare organization in network with the health system. After 18 months of informal negotiation efforts with the payer, NorthBay said it would terminate its contract on Nov. 30 if a new deal could not be reached. 
   
   
3. CDPHP and Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter's Health Partners have reached an "agreement in principle" that will keep the region's largest insurance provider in network with the hospital system that has 170 locations. The agreement comes after St. Peter's Health Partners sent letters to patients in November warning them the health system and CDPHP could go out of network if a contract agreement was not reached by Dec. 31.
   
   
4. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin and Wausau-based Aspirus Network have signed a new contract to maintain in-network access. The two organizations would have gone out of network with each other by Dec. 31 without a new contract. Aspirus operates 17 hospitals across Wisconsin and Michigan, along with 75 clinics. 
   
   
5. UnitedHealthcare and Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health have reached a multiyear deal to keep nearly 3 million beneficiaries in network with the health system's physicians and facilities in California. The agreement affects UnitedHealthcare members enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, as well as Medicare Advantage PPO and group retiree PPO plans. 
   
   
6. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York and Buffalo-based Kaleida Health signed a long-term agreement to allow Highmark's members to have in-network access to Kaleida's facilities. Kaleida operates five hospitals across the Buffalo and Niagara Falls region and employs nearly 1,600 affiliated physicians.