Ongoing Dispute Between Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Northern Light Health
PORTLAND – The stalemate between Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Northern Light Health drags on, with thousands of patients caught in the middle.
Northern Light plans to sever ties with Anthem late Wednesday night if an agreement isn’t reached.
An Anthem representative has expressed that they encouraged Northern Light Health to extend the contract for more negotiating time ahead of the midnight deadline.
However, Northern Light claims Anthem only communicated this through the media and didn’t engage effectively during mediation.
Northern Light operates the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Mercy Hospital in Portland, and various local medical practices.
Additionally, hundreds of thousands of residents in Maine have Anthem insurance.
The two parties have been at odds over the reimbursement rates insurance companies provide to hospitals for months, but they’re yet to finalize new contracts.
Northern Light has already shut down its Waterville inland hospital and is pulling out of a clinic in Bangor. Reports on Tuesday indicated intentions to close another clinic in Waterville by the year’s end.
They emphasize that without a higher reimbursement rate, further cuts are inevitable.
A state senator, a patient from the northern region, and a policyholder with Anthem shared concerns about hospitals facing severe challenges.
“It’s clear that hospitals throughout the state, particularly in rural areas, are under threat. If federal assistance comes into play with Medicaid, it could worsen the situation,” remarked Sen. Mike Tipping.
Should negotiations fail, Anthem patients needing primary or specialized care from Northern Light will likely have to seek new providers, many of whom aren’t accepting new patients.
Anthem, in turn, argues that agreeing to Northern Light’s demands would lead to increased premiums.
“I’m hopeful that mediation will continue and that a resolution can be reached for the sake of the thousands dependent on this,” added Sen. Tipping.
The likelihood of a deal being finalized by Wednesday night remains uncertain, as there’s no word yet on whether discussions might extend beyond the deadline.
