From Blue Shield today….
Blue Shield and Sutter Health are engaged in contract negotiations
Blue Shield of California and Sutter Health are engaged in discussions on rates and terms for a new network contract (HMO/PPO and in some cases, Group Medicare Advantage). The current contract is set to expire at the end of this year and without a new deal, Sutter Health would no longer be a Blue Shield in-network provider starting January 1, 2017
We are working diligently in good faith to complete a new contract that is fair and sustainably affordable for our customers. If the network relationship terminates, Blue Shield will ensure that members have continued access to care in their area, including continuity of care for those who qualify to continue in their current course of treatment with a Sutter Health provider.
What are the lines of business affected by the negotiations?
The contracts being negotiated apply to all Blue Shield plan types, including HMO, PPO, EPO, POS-HMO Tier, POS-PPO Tier and Group Medicare Advantage.
- Individual and Family Plans: Grandfathered and Non-Grandfathered Plans (on and off exchange)
- Medicare: Group Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (GMAPD) plans
- Small Business (1-100 employees)
- Fully Funded Large Employers (101+ employees)
- Self-Funded/ASO Large Employers (101+ employees)
- Self-Funded/Shared Advantage (101+ employees)
- CalPERS
- FEP
- FEHBP
Sutter Health providers are located in Northern and Central California (see listing of counties below). In addition, Sutter Health has surgery centers in San Diego County.
| Sutter Health Counties | ||||
| Alameda | Marin | San Joaquin | Santa Cruz | Sutter |
| Amador | Merced | San Luis Obispo | Shasta | Yolo |
| Contra Costa | Placer | San Mateo | Solano | |
| Del Norte | Sacramento | Santa Barbara | Sonoma | |
| Lake | San Francisco | Santa Clara | Stanislaus | |
The contracts currently being negotiated include the following Sutter Health hospitals:
- Alta Bates Medical Center Herrick Campus
- Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus
- California Pacific Medical Center – California Campus*
- California Pacific Medical Center – Pacific Campus*
- California Pacific Medical Center – St Luke’s Campus*
- California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus*
- Eden Medical Center
- Memorial Hospital Medical Center
- Memorial Hospital of Los Banos
- Menlo Park Surgical Hospital
- Mills Peninsula Health Center
- Mills Peninsula Medical Center
- Novato Community Hospital
- Sutter Amador Hospital
- Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital
- Sutter Center for Psychiatry
- Sutter Coast Hospital
- Sutter Davis Hospital
- Sutter Delta Medical Center
- Sutter Lakeside Hospital
- Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center of Santa Cruz
- Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa
- Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
- Sutter Roseville Medical Center
- Sutter Solano Medical Center
- Sutter Surgical Hospital North Valley
- Sutter Tracy Community Hospital*Includes Medicare Advantage
In the event of a termination with Sutter and in accordance with DMHC regulations, Blue Shield of California would notify HMO members assigned to a Sutter Health Primary Care Provider (PCP) 60-days in advance of a potential termination with Sutter Health. PPO members with an out-of-network benefit could receive services from a Sutter-affiliated provider, but the out-of-pocket costs will be at the non-preferred benefit level.
Our commitment to affordably priced health coverage
Blue Shield continues its provider contract discussions with Sutter Health in hopes that new agreements will soon be reached. We appreciate your patience while we work to secure the best possible outcome for our customers and members. Our goal is to provide our members with access to quality health care at an affordable price.
Emergency services
Blue Shield of California members who need emergency services should call 911 or seek care at the nearest emergency room. Blue Shield will provide the full emergency care level of benefits for these services.
