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BCBS of Texas vs Southwestern Health Resources

Network Contract Watch

As a reminder: Southwestern Health Resources, which includes UT Southwestern and Texas Health Resources, will leave the Blue Advantage HMO network after December 31, 2025, as part of new contract negotiations the parties finalized earlier this year.

The parties came to an agreement on new contracts in April after the previous contracts had lapsed for a few days amid negotiations.

Southwestern Health Resources remains in the following networks, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas website: ParPlan, Blue Choice PPO, Blue Essentials, MyBlue Health, Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (PPO), Blue Cross Medicare Advantage and Medicaid.

Source: WFAA

Regence BCBS vs Oregon Health & Science University

Network Contract Watch

Regence’s contract with OHSU and its Hillsboro affiliate expires on December 31. Both sides say contract talks are active and ongoing, and in the worst-case scenario, patients will not feel any immediate impacts if the contract ends without a deal.

That is because of protections built into the existing contract prevent Regence members from facing higher bills if they seek care at the hospitals during the 12-month extension.

However, this is worth monitoring and I will be doing so.

Source: Oregon Live/The Oregonian

UnitedHealthcare vs SSM Health

Network Contract Watch

Patients who use both SSM Health doctors and UnitedHealthcare insurance received letters warning that if the two sides don’t reach an agreement by December 31, they will have to find new doctors or pay higher out-of-network costs.

While the article states that SSM Health has created a microsite for affected patients, it states that UnitedHealthcare didn’t respond to a request for comment. As per one of my earlier posts, they have also created a microsite for affected members.

The article also notes that negotiations between Aetna and BJC Health are expected to conclude successfully.

Source: First Alert 4

BCBS of Texas vs Ascension Texas

Network Contract Watch

Without a deal, BCBS of Texas’ commercial, ACA and Medicare Advantage plans will not cover Waco-based Ascension Providence, nor its providers under MyBlue Health, along with Austin-based Ascension Seton, starting January 1, 2026.

Both Ascension Texas and BCBS of Texas have released statements, which provide exact lists of plans and providers that will be affected.

Source: Becker’s Payer Issues

RESOLVED: Aetna vs Providence Oregon

Network Contract Watch

As part of a multi-year agreement, Providence Health & Services recently announced that its facilities in Portland and around the state were back in-network as of Dec. 1 for members of Aetna’s commercial plans.

This comes nearly a year after Aetna, a large health insurer owned by industry behemoth CVS Health, dropped Providence Oregon from its network when negotiations broke down.

The deal will take different forms in different parts of the state. Providence facilities will be in-network for Aetna’s commercial plans throughout the state. But only in Southern Oregon will Aetna’s Medicare Advantage have in-network access to Providence facilities.

Source: Willamette Week

UnitedHealthcare vs TriHealth

Network Contract Watch

TriHealth and UnitedHealthcare are still negotiating, but have not yet reached a provider network contract agreement. If no deal is reached by December 31, patients will face out-of-network costs to continue seeing their TriHealth doctors.

Medigap Plan G and other supplemental plans will not be affected by the negotiations. The dispute only impacts UnitedHealthcare commercial and Medicare Advantage plans.

Patients are encouraged to stay informed and take proactive steps to protect their healthcare access as the deadline approaches. They should also be aware that the deadline to initiate a Continuity of Care request is January 30, 2026.

Source: WCPO

UnitedHealthcare vs Corewell Health

Network Contract Watch

UnitedHealthcare is currently in active negotiations with both Bronson Healthcare and Corewell Health. While Bronson’s agreement with UnitedHealthcare was extended through February, Corewell’s agreement with UnitedHealthcare has not been extended.

If Corewell and UnitedHealthcare aren’t able to reach an agreement, Corewell will be out of network for people enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial and individual exchange plans.

Source: WZZM