A contract battle between Blue Shield of California and Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health has raged on since the previous contract ended on Dec. 31 and now a deal must be made, according to a Sacramento Business Journal report.
Both organizations have proposed offers — Sutter offered to extend the transition agreement through 2015 at 2014 rates and terms while Blue Shield issued a counter offer to the existing contract going for two years — but neither has accepted.
If a deal isn't made before Saturday, Jan. 31, Blue Shield will likely send notices to more than 140,000 HMO members across Northern California notifying them to change themselves to non-Sutter physicians before April 1 or else be assigned a new physician.
More articles on Sutter Health:
Blue Shield issues counter offer in Sutter Health cost dispute
Blue Shield of California and Sutter Health in costs battle
Sutter Health improves operating performance, posts $224M surplus