Pocatello, Idaho-based Portneuf Medical Center emergency room physicians are back in network with Blue Cross of Idaho, according to the Idaho State Journal.
Portneuf Medical Center's emergency room physicians went out of network with the state's two largest health insurers after the ER physicians reorganized under a new group. The ER physicians created the new practice, Rocky Mountain Physician Group, to move management from an out-of-state group into their own hands.
This required the physicians to negotiate new contracts with Blue Cross of Idaho, and patients faced higher out-of-pocket costs as a result. The new contract is retroactive to April 14, when the dispute began.
In a joint statement provided to the Idaho State Journal, RMPG and Dave Jeppesen, executive vice president and chief strategy and innovation officer for Blue Cross of Idaho, said, "Our agreement includes a new value-based care arrangement to improve healthcare quality at the lowest cost, consistent with our commitment to affordability for our members."