Contracting

Dec. 31 deadlines are looming for some payer-provider contracts, while other disputes are dragging on and leaving patients out of network. Here are five updates on ongoing contract negotiations:

Aetna and Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network will be out of network next year, The Morning Call reported Nov. 10. 

New Jersey's police union is pressing state officials to divulge whether Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will face financial penalties following 20% higher premiums among some public employees, Bloomberg reported Nov. 8.

Nebraska has delayed the signing of new Medicaid managed care contracts until a protest filed by a losing bidder is resolved, the Omaha World-Herald reported Nov. 6. 

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.

Cigna is spending $200 million to integrate Express Scripts as Centene's new pharmacy benefit manager for 20 million members starting in 2024.

About 20,000 patients could be left out of network if UnitedHealthcare and Syracuse, N.Y.-based SUNY Upstate University Hospital are unable to reach a new contract before the current one expires Dec. 31, syracuse.com reported Nov. 3. 

Carle Health will treat Aetna Medicare Advantage members after the two sides reached a tentative contract agreement, CBS affiliate WCIA reported Oct. 31.

Six months after Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health went out of network with UnitedHealthcare, the two sides have reached a multi-year agreement. 

Amarillo, Texas-based Baptist St. Anthony Health System will avoid leaving Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas' network after the two sides were able to reach an agreement Oct. 31.