Brewer, Maine-based Northern Light Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to establish a new contract extending coverage by their Oct. 31 deadline, both organizations confirmed to Becker’s.
“We continue to work closely with Anthem to conclude negotiations as soon as possible,” a Northern Light spokesperson said in a Nov. 4 statement shared with Becker’s.
The spokesperson said mediation is ongoing, and the system will hold bills for patient care. The health system said it will ensure any contract is “retroactive” to guarantee care during the interim is billed at in-network rates.
“Northern Light Health saying they will treat patients as in network — with no plan or agreement to do so — is a recipe for patient confusion, incorrect charges to patients and other complications,” a Nov. 3 statement from Anthem said.
Northern Light hospitals will stay in network for Anthem members through the end of the year, according to the insurer.
“Northern Light’s latest request on hospital prices continues to exceed what we can ask our members and employer customers to pay,” Anthem continued. “We are focused on having Northern Light Health in our network at prices our members and employers can afford.”
