MultiCare reaches contract terms with major insurer. Here’s what it mean for patients

A segment of patients fearing loss of in-network MultiCare coverage over an expiring contract have received some happy news.

In separate statements issued Wednesday, Mountlake Terrace-based Premera Blue Cross and Tacoma-based MultiCare said they’d reached terms on a new contract.

“Premera Blue Cross is pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with MultiCare Health System,” Amanda Lansford, external communictions manager for Premera, said via email Wednesday.

“This new agreement ensures that our members continue to have access to quality care at an affordable price and that MultiCare is fairly compensated.”

MultiCare, in its statement, said: “This agreement ensures that all MultiCare hospitals, facilities, and providers will remain in-network for patients with Premera commercial Individual Exchange Plans and Medicare Advantage products.”

The health system added, “Effective immediately, this agreement allows patients to continue accessing high-quality care without disruption.”

Premera’s contact was set to expire at the end of May, which would have put coverage for patients with MultiCare providers out of network as of June 1.

Premera in April told The News Tribune that the two sides were far apart, though negotiations would continue. The insurer contended MultiCare’s proposed rates were way more than what Premera wanted to cover, while MultiCare countered that Premera was far from reasonably meeting costs of care.

Lansford on Wednesday noted that from the insurer’s point of view, “these negotiations are not about Premera; they are about our customers. We serve as their advocate during these discussions as we work with provider partners on practical solutions to keep healthcare affordable and accessible.”

News of the insurance agreement comes just after MultiCare’s recent affiliation announcement, partnering with Overlake Medical Center & Clinics in Bellevue and expanding both systems’ market reach.

It also follows another contract battle carried out in public earlier this year between MultiCare and Regence BlueShield. The health system and Regence made similar arguments against each other before reaching their agreement in February.

MultiCare CEO Bill Robertson told The News Tribune on Tuesday he was hopeful for reaching agreement in MultiCare’s negotiations with Premera, noting that “we’ve never not gotten to a deal.”