A little more than a month after Mission Health’s contract with Blue Cross expired, the two health care giants have resumed talks, a BCBSNC spokesman confirmed Monday.
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Mission Health have entered into discussions regarding a future network participation agreement and will refrain from public comment until those talks are completed,” a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina spokesman said.
Mission Health’s contract with BCBS expired October 5, which essentially meant all Mission Health physicians and facilities were out-of-network providers for patients with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina insurance.
The two sides have been in dispute over the rate Blue Cross should pay Mission. They negotiated for months, with Mission asking Blue Cross to pay more.
Mission announced its intent to terminate the contract on July 5. Blue Cross then ended negotiations, stating it doesn’t negotiate when a party opts out.
BCBS officials said it would negotiate once Mission went out-of-network.
This could be the first time the sides have negotiated in four months.
“We have previously said that we were not going to comment, and we continue to refrain from comment,” Mission’s Rowena Buffett Timms said.
Date: Nov 14, 2017