The contract between Portneuf Medical Center and Regence BlueShield is scheduled to expire on June 14, 2026. If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement, the following facilities would become out-of-network:
- PHS Ambulatory Services
- Pocatello Health Services
- Portneuf Ambulatory Surgical Center
- Portneuf Medical Center
Both sides have gone public with their positions — and their accounts of what is driving the dispute differ significantly. PMC contends that Regence reimburses the health system at unfairly low rates compared to other insurers and has created mounting administrative barriers that delay patient care. Regence counters that PMC’s parent company — Tennessee-based Ardent Health — is demanding double-digit rate increases that would ultimately drive up costs for local businesses and health plan members.
Alternate options for Regence BlueShield members include Bingham Memorial Hospital, Caribou Medical Center, Mountain View Hospital, and Idaho Falls Community Hospital.
Both Regence and PMC say they remain committed to reaching an agreement.
Source: Idaho State Journal via InsuranceNewsNet