SMH is extending its agreement with Cigna until April 30, 2020, back from an original Dec. 31 deadline. Hospital leaders told the publication the extension is only to help patients who need to find a new in-network provider.
A spokesperson from SMH told the Herald-Tribune, “We’ve been negotiating with Cigna for a year and we’ve given them multiple extensions. We’re not getting anywhere in some discussions we’ve been having with claim denials and reimbursement issues. We’re not negotiating right now.”
If the conflict isn’t resolved by the new deadline, local city and county employees who get their health insurance through Cigna may face out-of-network rates for services received at the hospital and from affiliated physicians.
Medicare plans aren’t affected.
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