Payer Contracting

Aetna and Munster, Ind.-based Community Healthcare System will go out of network if the two sides cannot reach a contract agreement by Jan. 15, Inside Indiana Business reported Dec. 5. 

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 Times Union reported Dec. 3.

Phoenix Children's Hospital will go out of network with Cigna if the sides are unable to reach a new contract by Feb. 1, the Phoenix Business Journal reported Dec. 2. 

Thousands of patients will be left out-of-network if Regence BlueShield of Washington and Optum-owned The Polyclinic and The Everett Clinic do not reach an agreement by Dec. 19, The Seattle Times reported Nov. 28. 

As payers and health systems ink new in-network contracts nationwide, these are eight ongoing disputes Becker's has been tracking:

Contract negotiations have stalled between UnitedHealthcare and Albuquerque, N.M.-based Lovelace Health System, the Albuquerque Journal reported Nov. 26.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin and Wausau-based Aspirus Network have signed a new contract to maintain in-network access, CBS affiliate WSAW reported Nov. 23.

Cameron (Mo.) Regional Medical Center will go out of network with Cigna Medicare Advantage plans on Dec. 31, the New-Press Now reported Nov. 25. 

UnitedHealthcare and Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health have reached a multi-year deal to keep nearly 3 million beneficiaries in-network with the health system's physicians and facilities in California, the Eureka Times-Standard reported Nov. 22.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York and Buffalo-based Kaleida Health have signed a long-term agreement to allow Highmark’s members to have in-network access to Kaleida's facilities.