Legacy Health is in the midst of contract negotiations with Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, and if an agreement is not reached, patients could see a significant increase in their healthcare costs. In a letter to its 200,000 customers, Legacy Health has warned that prices may jump significantly in just a few days if a new contract is not finalized.
If the contract between Legacy Health and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon expires on Sunday without a new agreement in place, patients insured with Regence could find that their providers are out of network, resulting in higher costs. Legacy’s chief population health officer, Merrin Permut, has notified patients of the potential contract termination and advised those with scheduled appointments after March 31 to contact their insurance company for information on in-network vs. out-of-network costs.
Both sides in this situation seem to be taking a tough stance. Regence claims they offered Legacy a competitive contract that has not yet been accepted or rejected, while Legacy points out that Regence has been profitable and stockpiling cash while healthcare providers like Legacy have been struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fate of this contract negotiation will determine the future costs and network access for Legacy patients insured with Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.