Premera, MultiCare agreement maintains access to facilities for over 100K people

(The Center Square) – Premera Blue Cross and MultiCare Health Systems have agreed to the terms of a new contract, which will ensure members’ access to approximately 1,000 healthcare providers statewide.

“Premera Blue Cross is pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with MultiCare Health System,” Amanda Lansford, Premera’s external communications manager, wrote in an email. “This new agreement ensures that our members continue to have access to quality care at an affordable price and that MultiCare is fairly compensated.”

The announcement came out Wednesday morning as a prior contract between the two not-for-profit organizations was set to expire at the end of the month.

Premera and MultiCare had been in negotiations for months, a process that began with a termination notice, according to a statement that Premera has since removed from its website.

“Effective immediately, this agreement allows patients to continue accessing high-quality care without disruption,” said Kevin Maloney, media relations manager for MultiCare’s Inland Northwest region, in a news release. “At MultiCare, our mission is partnering for healing and a healthy future, and this new agreement reflects our commitment to the communities we serve by maintaining essential partnerships that prioritize patient welfare.”

- Advertisement -

Throughout negotiations, MultiCare maintained that Premera had reimbursed them far below the rate of inflation since 2019, so much so that it jeopardized members’ access to roughly 1,000 healthcare providers statewide, according to previous reporting from The Center Square.

However, a representative from Premera told The Center Square that while inflation is up, MultiCare agreed to those rates during the last round of negotiations.

Had the process failed, around 103,000 Premera members in Washington would have lost access to MultiCare facilities, according to reporting from Spokane’s KHQ-TV.

“As we’ve always said, these negotiations are not about Premera; they are about our customers,” Premera noted in its announcement. “We serve as their advocate during these discussions as we work with provider partners on practical solutions to keep healthcare affordable and accessible.”

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

LA anti-ICE protests joined by Iran protests, youth unrest

(The Center Square) - Anti-deportation protests continued in Los...

Illinois congressional members offer mixed reactions to U.S. strikes on Iran

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have expressed mixed...

Hyundai details $6B steel mill in Louisiana, commitment to ‘hydrogen economy’

(The Center Square) − Louisiana's Clean Hydrogen Task Force...

WATCH: Bondi says Iran nationals in U.S. pose threat

(The Center Square) – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi...

Voter registrations of four parties formerly recognized begin to change

(The Center Square) – Four parties that have lost...

What to watch for from NATO 2025 summit

President Donald Trump will head to the 2025 North...

Outgoing Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice warns money

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s retiring Supreme Court justice...

Spokane rushes to save foreclosure program after feds pull funding

(The Center Square) – The city of Spokane is...

More like this
Related

LA anti-ICE protests joined by Iran protests, youth unrest

(The Center Square) - Anti-deportation protests continued in Los...

Illinois congressional members offer mixed reactions to U.S. strikes on Iran

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have expressed mixed...

Hyundai details $6B steel mill in Louisiana, commitment to ‘hydrogen economy’

(The Center Square) − Louisiana's Clean Hydrogen Task Force...

WATCH: Bondi says Iran nationals in U.S. pose threat

(The Center Square) – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi...