August 5, 2026
MultiCare, which operates more than a dozen hospitals in Washington, has agreed to keep charging Premera Blue Cross insurance customers in-network rates after months of negotiations that threatened their coverage.
The hospital system and insurer are still hashing out the details, Bill Akers, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Premera, said Tuesday. Both parties declined to provide further information about the preliminary agreement.
A MultiCare spokesperson confirmed the deal.
Patients should experience no disruptions in coverage.
Source: Washington State Standard
June 29, 2026
MultiCare and Premera Blue Cross have extended a deadline to reach a new contract.
Negotiations are continuing as the two companies agreed on a one-month extension. Premera’s coverage at MultiCare facilities will continue through July 31. This is the second time negotiations were extended as the last two-year contract was initially set to expire in May.
More than 64,000 people in Spokane County have Premera health insurance coverage.
Source: The Spokesman-Review
June 1, 2026
Although contract negotiations are still ongoing, MultiCare and Premera Blue Cross have agreed to extend their current contract through June 30, 2026. MultiCare will remain in network for members with Premera health plans at least through then.
“This is not a final agreement, and there are still real differences to work through,” a Premera statement noted. “But this extension provides more time and space for Premera and MultiCare to continue negotiating and work toward an agreement that fairly compensates our provider partner and ensures our members have access to quality care at a price they can afford.”
Source: Yakima Herald-Republic
April 27, 2026
Thousands of people in Spokane County could be searching for new doctors this summer as MultiCare Health and Premera Blue Cross remain locked in contract negotiations.
MultiCare served a contract termination notice to Premera that would go into effect June 1 if the two sides don’t reach an agreement. The healthcare providers have been negotiating since November.
David Condon, Premera’s Eastern Washington vice president, said MultiCare’s proposed terms would dramatically increase costs. MultiCare said in a statement that Premera’s reimbursement rates “are among the lowest” and “have not kept pace with rising costs driven by inflation, workforce needs, and investments necessary to preserve services.”
Source: KXLY