Regence BlueShield, Everett Clinic reach contract agreement

Published 1:30 am Saturday, November 12, 2016

EVERETT — A contract dispute between Regence BlueShield and The Everett Clinic has been settled.

This prevents some 69,000 patients of The Everett Clinic with Regence health insurance from having to find a new insurance plan, a new doctor or end up paying out-of-network fees next year.

An announcement of the agreement was posted on The Everett Clinic’s website Friday evening.

“We are pleased to announce that The Everett Clinic and Regence BlueShield have come to a contract resolution and expect services to continue without disruption in 2017 for Regence patients being seen at The Everett Clinic,” it said.

Regence made a similiar announcement on its Facebook page.

The agreement was reached as patients are shopping for health insurance for next year. This includes those who are buying an individual health insurance plan, signing up for health insurance at their jobs and Medicare Advantage patients facing a Dec. 7 signup deadline.

The Everett Clinic informed Regence on Oct. 26 of its plans to terminate the contract, which would have expired Jan. 25.

A letter notifying Everett Clinic patients of the contract dispute was posted on the website of VibrantUSA, which provides guidance on various Medicare health plan options.

Russell Solberg, president and chief operating officer for VibrantUSA, said his organization “is extremely pleased” with news that a contract agreement has been reached.

This will allow hundreds of Medicare insurance customers to continue to be able to see their Everett Clinic physicians in 2017 as in-network providers, he said in a phone call Saturday.

“We appreciate all of the hard work that both The Everett Clinic and RegenceBlueShield put into getting this agreement in place,” he said.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.