YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mercy Health and Cigna have agreed to extend their contract deadline to allow for additional negotiations.
A Mercy Health spokesman indicated that patients with commercial health insurance (employer sponsored) will remain in network until at least 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. The contract had been set to expire as of April 1.
The extension applies to Mercy Health physician practices, acute care hospitals, urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery centers and additional care sites throughout Ohio.
Locally, this includes Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital and Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital.
“We understand that the possibility of being out of network is difficult for many of our patients, and we appreciated the trust and confidence they have placed in us as we work to finalize the agreement,” the spokesperson said.
The two sides are expected to continue negotiations. Mercy Health said last week that what Cigna pays for doctors, nurses and caregivers is not currently adequate to cover the costs of the care given.
More information is available HERE.