Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma inked a transitional in-network agreement through May 31 with Muskogee, Okla.-based Eastar Health System's two acquired hospitals.
BCBSOK originally had a contract with Eastar Health, which ended when Tulsa, Okla.-based Saint Francis Health System agreed to purchase the system earlier this year. BCBSOK posted an alert to patients last week stating the newly acquired hospitals and physicians would be out of the insurer's provider network for seven of its health plans. The decision was made after Saint Francis and BCBSOK reached a contract impasse regarding reimbursement rates, according to a Muskogee Phoenix report.
The insurer said contract negotiations stalled due to Saint Francis' rejection of rates Eastar had accepted. However, Saint Francis posted a statement Wednesday that said in-network services at Saint Francis Muskogee Hospital, the collective name of Eastar's acquired hospitals, would be available to BCBSOK policyholders. That same day, BCBSOK officials removed its patient notice.
The transitional agreement applies to various BCBSOK networks including Blue Traditional, Blue Choice PPO, Blue Preferred PPO, Blue Advantage PPO, BlueLincs HMO and Caring Program for Children Network. Medicare Supplemental or Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are not affected.