Staying in-network: St. Charles Health System reaches insurance agreement with PacificSource
Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding PacificSource statement)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — St. Charles Health System announced Thursday an agreement with PacificSource, allowing thousands of patients on both the commercial and Medicare Advantage plans to remain in-network for St. Charles hospitals and clinics.
PacificSource had informed its local customers in late September that they could go out of network with St. Charles on Jan. 1, but that talks were continuing. Days later, the other remaining Medicare Advantage insurance plan available locally, Providence Health Plan, announced it will be leaving the Deschutes County market on Jan. 1, leaving only PacificSource as potentially available.
“We are grateful we were able to come to an agreement with PacificSource to maintain in-network coverage for thousands of local residents, who we hope will welcome this news,” said Matt Swafford, Chief Financial Officer for St. Charles. “We appreciate PacificSource coming to the table and working with us on a solution that meets all of our needs.”
The agreements reached are for one year for the Medicare Advantage contract and two years for the commercial contract, the health system said in a news release.
“We recognize that uncertainty about insurance coverage can cause stress for our patients, especially given state and national trends in declining Medicare Advantage options,” Swafford said. “Negotiations like these are an important part of the overall process that ensures St. Charles can continue to provide access to health care services locally for the communities we serve.”
St. Charles said it continues to work closely with insurance providers on coverage options for local residents and also recently reached an agreement on commercial insurance with Providence Health Plans, along with Aetna and Cigna.
PacificSource provided KTVZ News with this statement:
“PacificSource is pleased to have reached an agreement with St. Charles Health System, ensuring our members can continue accessing the care they rely on. Our priority throughout this process has been providing clarity and continuity for the Central Oregon communities we serve. We value the collaboration that led to this outcome and remain committed to keeping health care affordable and accessible for our members.”
For the latest information on which plans are currently in-network for St. Charles providers and facilities, visit their website.