BEND, Oregon
St. Charles Health System announced on Tuesday that it has finalized a contract with two insurance providers, Aetna and Cigna. This agreement aims to tackle issues related to claim denials, administrative challenges, and overall inefficiencies, allowing patients to utilize their insurance plans to ensure St. Charles can continue providing election services.
The collaboration between St. Charles and Cigna Healthcare reveals that Cigna will no longer be part of the network starting October 1st.
“Over the past several years, we have urged insurers to collaborate with us on various concerns, such as refusals of medical care, increasing administrative demands on our teams, and delays in patient services,” stated St. Charles’ Chief Financial Officer.
“Though it’s not without flaws, the contract with Aetna, which includes engagement from Cigna, contains provisions to address these challenges. We will continue to maintain a network with both insurance providers,” Swafford elaborated.
The recent resolution regarding Aetna impacts about 7,500 individuals in central Oregon, while the Cigna contract was set to expire on September 30th, affecting roughly 5,000 patients.
“We recognize that some people are anxious about possibly losing or needing to switch their coverage, and we take those concerns seriously,” Swafford commented. “We are proceeding with these newly negotiated contracts because they serve the best interests of our patients and help ensure access to healthcare in central Oregon.”
About St. Charles Health System
St. Charles Health System, Inc., based in Bend, Oregon, operates hospital campuses in Bend, Madras, Prineville, and Redmond, along with various primary and specialized care clinics throughout Central Oregon. As a nonprofit and the largest employer in central Oregon, St. Charles employs over 5,200 caregivers and collaborates with the local medical community to offer a broad range of medical services.
