The impasse between Blue Shield and Fresno’s Community Health System continues to drag on. For nearly three weeks, 12,000 enrollees have been unable to get in-network coverage.

“Our only level one trauma center is right here in downtown Fresno, and the fact that we no longer have in-network coverage is a serious problem,” Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi said on Thursday.

Among those caught in the middle are 5,000 city employees.

Blue Shield claims Community terminated the contract. But the healthcare system states the insurance company did not grant another extension.

City leaders say it is time to cut Blue Shield out of the process and, instead, negotiate directly.

“In situations like this, the Health and Welfare Trust can negotiate and work directly with a provider, in this case, Community Health Systems,” Karbassi said.

This dispute comes just weeks after Community restored coverage for 6,000 Fresno Unified retirees on Aetna.

Last month, Action News met Emily Brandt, who taught at Bullard High for 22 years.

“I may look fine, but I don’t feel fine,” she told us.

Brandt suffers from a rare form of cancer affecting three in a million people.

Her appointments at Community were canceled after the lapse in Aetna coverage there, prompting Brandt to take the extraordinary step of traveling across the country for treatment.

“I’m going to Boston and hoping to get treatment there,” she said. “They will accept our insurance at Dana-Farber, but Community doesn’t.”

Action News asked city leaders about Community’s track record.

“We saw what happened with Aetna last month. A second impasse now. Does Community bear any responsibility in your mind?” we asked Karbassi.

“That’s a fair question,” he said. “I’ll tell you one thing. Community has been very transparent in answering any of our questions.”

“They’re on notice as much as Blue Shield, but they’re the ones right now willing to negotiate… to the point where they’re willing to negotiate directly with our trust,” Karbassi said.

For news updates, follow Gabe Ferris on Facebook, X and Instagram.