Payer Contracting

Regence BlueShield of Washington and Optum-owned Everett (Wash.) Clinic and Polyclinic have reached an agreement to keep 19,000 commercial members in-network. 

California is awarding more payers contracts to manage its Medicaid program, reversing course on contract awards that could have forced two million Medi-Cal members to switch insurance. 

Memphis, Tenn.-based Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is out of network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee after the sides were unable to reach a new agreement by Dec. 31, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Jan. 2. 

Cigna and Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica have finalized an agreement to keep the health system's patients in network with the payer, ABC affiliate WTVG reported Dec. 29. 

UnitedHealthcare is extending its contract with Syracuse, N.Y.-based Upstate University Hospital by two months as the sides look to avoid a coverage disruption for about 20,000 patients, syracuse.com reported Dec. 29. 

Stillwater (Ok.) Medical Center could go out of network with BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma on May 1, 2023, if the sides are unable to agree on a new contract, the Stillwater News Press reported Dec. 28. 

Anthem Blue Cross and Hollister, Calif.-based Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital have agreed on a new contract, which will take effect Jan.1, Benito Link reported Jan. 28. 

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York and Buffalo, N.Y.-based Catholic Health have reached a three-year deal days before their previous contract was set to expire, the Buffalo News reported Dec. 28. 

Humana Military and TriWest Healthcare Alliance have been awarded the Defense Department's Tricare managed care support contracts. 

Kroger and Prime Therapeutics have agreed to a new contract.