BCBS Illinois, Springfield Clinic dispute still unresolved 1 year later

Nearly a year after contract negotiations between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Springfield Clinic fell through, the two sides are still negotiating without a resolution in sight, WCIA reported Nov. 3.

The number of affected patients is disputed by the two sides. BCBS Illinois says 55,000 patients are affected, while Springfield Clinic says this number is 110,000. 

Chase Hammon, CFO at Springfield Clinic, told the news station he is "not optimistic" about reaching an agreement with the insurer. 

Springfield Clinic, headquartered in Springfield, Ill., operates 90 clinics in multiple specialties in 20 central Illinois counties, according to its website.

A spokesperson for BCBS Illinois told WCIA, "It does not appear that the [clinic] is interested in reaching an agreement." 

Springfield Clinic has been out of network with BCBS Illinois, the largest payer in the state, since Nov. 17, 2021. A spokesperson for the insurer told Becker's at the time that increasing medical costs drove tense contract negotiations. 

In March, Illinois fined the Chicago-based payer $339,000 dollars for failing to provide information after the contract break. 

Negotiations between the two sides are ongoing as open enrollment periods get underway, WCIA reported. 

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