June 2, 2026
MultiCare has reached an agreement with Regence Insurance.
Not a lot is known about this deal, as MultiCare announced it in a short email on Monday morning with not many details.
Specifics will likely be kept confidential and proprietary, but I am monitoring for any alerts involving care received between May 9 and May 30. The agreement is likely retroactive but there is no confirmation currently available. As of June 1, neither Regence nor MultiCare had updated their web sites, but this can be expected in the near future.
Patients with medical procedures or visits scheduled in the future should not experience any disruptions in care.
Source: KIMA
May 2, 2026
A dispute over the level of reimbursement has prompted MultiCare to send a notice of contract termination to Regence BlueCross BlueShield insurance. The current contact ends on May 9, 2026.
If no contract is agreed upon by then, Regence plan members in Grays Harbor, Thurston, and Yakima counties may lose in-network access to MultiCare facilities including Yakima Memorial Hospital.
Both parties are saying they are hopeful an agreement will be reached by May 10; and under Washington law, Regence members may be able to see their primary care provider at in-network prices through August 8th.
However, members are receiving letters and are advised to call ahead before any appointments with MultiCare providers that are on or after May 10.
Sources: Becker’s Payer Issues, Yakima Herald-Republic, MultiCare, Regence