August 5, 2026
Hospitals in one of Arkansas’ largest healthcare networks could soon wind up out-of-network with the insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and CHI St. Vincent and Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health have been in negotiations on the healthcare system’s provider reimbursement rates for the past several months but have not yet been able to reach a mutually acceptable accommodation.
The current contract ends on August 31, 2026. If agreement cannot be reached by then, the following hospitals will be out-of-network with Arkansas Blue Cross beginning on September 1, 2026:
- CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs
- CHI St. Vincent Infirmary (Little Rock)
- CHI St. Vincent Morrilton
- CHI St. Vincent North (Sherwood)
Sources: Arkansas BCBS Updates, KATV