Kootenai Health and Regence BlueShield of Idaho have announced that they have reached a new two-year contract agreement, ensuring that Regence members will continue to have in-network access to Kootenai Health’s comprehensive health care services.
The new contract takes effect January 1, 2026, ensuring no gap in coverage for Regence members. Patients do not need to take any action—appointments, referrals, and ongoing treatments will continue as scheduled.
Source: Kootenai Health
A North Idaho hospital and a major Idaho health insurer are struggling to renegotiate a contract to keep the hospital in network.
Kootenai Health and Regence BlueShield of Idaho are “at an impasse” to renegotiate the provider care contract, state officials recently said.
If a deal isn’t struck by Jan. 1, the Coeur d’Alene hospital could become out-of-network for Regence, which runs the health insurance plan for state government employees and several other plans. The contract ending could raise health care costs at the hospital for around 11,000 Idahoans.
Both Regence BlueShield and Kootenai Health have issued statements about the issue.
Source: Idaho Capital Sun