BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Friday is the deadline for Northern Light Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine to reach a new contract agreement.
Anthem put out a statement Friday evening saying in part, “We’re tremendously disappointed that despite our best efforts – including doubling our offered payment rate increases – Northern Light Health’s latest request is for a three-year 24.8% increase in hospital prices.”
Anthem said they are committed to continuing talks until a deal is reached with Northern Light, but NLH is unwilling to extend the contract past Friday.
Northern Light Health responded, saying “We have been negotiating throughout the day and remain confident that we can get an agreement signed in the agreed upon timeframe. We are disappointed that Anthem has decided to again release false information to the media as discussions are ongoing, said Suzanne Spruce, Senior Vice President, Chief Communication Officer.
Unless an agreement is reached Friday on a new contract or an extension, NLH non-hospital facilities, doctors, and specialists will leave the Anthem network Saturday.
NLH and Anthem failed to reach a new deal by the end of the original September deadline but agreed to extend their existing contract until Friday.
About 30,000 people in Maine have health insurance through Anthem.
Here is Anthem’s full statement to WABI
We’re tremendously disappointed that despite our best efforts – including doubling our offered payment rate increases – Northern Light Health’s latest request is for a three-year 24.8 percent increase in hospital prices. Mainers and their employers cannot afford these kinds of price hikes. We’re committed to continuing talks until we reach an agreement that keeps Northern Light Health in our network at prices Mainers can afford.
Unless Northern Light Health agrees to a new contract or contract extension TODAY, its non-hospital facilities, doctors, and specialists will leave our network tomorrow – November 1 – for our employer-sponsored and individual plan members, and on December 31 for our Medicare members. Northern Light Health’s hospitals will remain in network through the end of the year for all of our members.
Additional facts about the ongoing negotiations
Although both parties have agreed on payment increases for Northern Light Health’s doctors and other healthcare professionals, Northern Light has told us they are unwilling to extend our contract past today – October 31. Extending it would help our members avoid care disruption and allow us more time for negotiation on hospital prices.
Here is Northern Light Health’s full statement to WABI
“We have been negotiating throughout the day and remain confident that we can get an agreement signed in the agreed upon timeframe. We are disappointed that Anthem has decided to again release false information to the media as discussions are ongoing,” said Suzanne Spruce, Senior Vice President, Chief Communication Officer.
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