Mercy Health Says It is Working to Renew Contract With Cigna

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Mercy Health said today it is working to reach an agreement with Cigna to renew a contract for employer sponsored plans for 2023.

If the contract ends Jan. 1 without a new agreement being reached, Mercy Health medical groups in Ohio and hospitals in Youngstown, Cincinnati, Lima and Lorain will no longer be in-network providers with Cigna of Ohio insurance.

Mercy Health said in a statement that patients with this coverage will continue to have access to all of its hospitals for emergency treatment, regardless of the network status with Cigna.

“In our opinion, Cigna of Ohio is falling short of its responsibility to our community by attempting to pay hospitals and medical practices less than competitive rates, and expecting patients to shoulder the difference,” the statement reads.

The American Hospital Association reported industrywide increases of 19% for labor costs per patient since 2019, 28% increases in hospital drugs since 2020 and 21% increases in medical supplies.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.