While negotiations advance between Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, several headwinds persist nearly two weeks after their contract expired, WABE reports.
A key sticking point is physician payments. Matt Gove, Piedmont's chief consumer officer, told the publication, "While we may be closer on parts of the overall rate issue, we're still particularly concerned about ensuring that our physicians are paid fairly for the good care they provide to patients every day."
The stalemate has left tens of thousands of BCBSGA patients without in-network access to Piedmont after their contract expired March 31.
Jeff Fusile, president of BCBSGA, told WABE the payer "offered rates that are three times the rate of [general] inflation and more than three times the average salary increase for Georgians. Piedmont's request is higher than that."
However, Mr. Fusile emphasized the two sides have made "tremendous progress" during their face-to-face meetings. Days after their contract lapse, Georgia Republican Gov. Nathan Deal directed Piedmont and BCBSGA to head back to the negotiating table. Mr. Deal also announced Georgia and the University System of Georgia, based in Atlanta, will pocket out-of-network claims for 30 days for about 600,000 state employees affected by the spat.
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