UW Medicine Issues Termination Notice
By Corporate Communications
UW Medicine has notified Premera of its decision to terminate several provider contracts with the company. The contracts would end on July 1, 2023. That date marks the conclusion of the current contract period.
Premera is working diligently to renegotiate these contracts, which include all lines of business, including commercial, Premera Blue Cross individual, LifeWise Assurance Company (student insurance) and Medicare Advantage. These negotiations do not impact Premera members with Medicare Supplement coverage.
These contracts include the following UW Medicine-affiliated providers and facilities:
- UW Medical Center – Northwest and Montlake
- Harborview Medical Center
- UW Medicine primary care, urgent care, and specialty care clinics
- Valley Medical Center
- All providers, including specialists, primary care providers, and other healthcare professionals practicing at UW Medicine. This includes services provided by UW healthcare professionals at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
“We value our long-standing partnership with UW Medicine, and we are working in good faith to reach an agreement that provides our members with access to affordable, quality care," said Jennifer Sanders, vice president, Network Management.
This notice from UW Medicine comes days after the positive resolution of a termination notice and lengthy negotiation with EvergreenHealth.
Termination notices can be unsettling. Back-to-back notices? Even more so. These continue to be unique times. What hasn’t changed and what won’t change though, is Premera’s advocacy for, and focus on our customers. We’re working hard on their behalf to ensure we keep healthcare costs reasonable, quality high and access as broad as possible. That way, our fellow Northwest employers can continue to invest in their businesses, their employees, and the community.
You may see news coverage about this in the next few days. Please direct any media inquiries to Brand and Reputation Director Courtney Wallace.