Cigna and Cincinnati-based Mercy Health could split, leaving thousands of patients without in-network access to their provider, if the two sides cannot reach a contract agreement by Jan. 1, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Dec. 9.
The newspaper reported 12,000 patients would be affected by the contract break at Mercy Health's hospitals in Cincinnati, Lima, Youngstown and Lorain, and 20,000 more in its health clinics across Ohio.
In a statement to the newspaper, Mercy Health accused Cigna of Ohio of failing to negotiate in good faith.
The payer told the Cincinnati Enquirer it hopes to keep Mercy Health in network and will work with members to find other in-network providers if needed.
"We would very much like to keep Mercy Health's physicians in our commercial network, but not at the excessively high rates they are demanding from our clients and customers," a spokesperson told the newspaper.