Mission, Blue Cross talking, but say little publicly

ASHEVILLE – Mission Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina are talking about a new contract, a Blue Cross NC spokesman said this week.

But neither side will say publicly what they are saying to each other, how often they are meeting or when, or answer questions about how close or far apart the two sides are.

The talks were expected. Representatives of the two sides said shortly after the contract expired Oct. 4 that they wanted to meet to discuss a new one. Mission said then that dates Blue Cross NC had proposed were a month off and expressed disappointment that talks would not begin right away.

Blue Cross NC had refused to negotiate with Mission after Mission gave notice in July that it was terminating the previous contract. That agreement set out rates for how much Blue Cross NC paid Mission for caring for the 260,000 people in Western North Carolina the insurer covers.

MORE: Mission-Blue Cross NC contract ends with no replacement

The end of the contract means most people with Blue Cross NC insurance now have to pay more for services from Mission doctors, hospitals and other Mission health care facilities or get care elsewhere.

About all either side would say this week about negotiations is that they will not discuss their status publicly.

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Mission Health have entered into discussions regarding a future network participation agreement, and will refrain from public comment until those talks are completed,” Austin Vevurka, a spokesman for Blue Cross NC, said in a statement.

Rowena Buffett Timms, senior vice president of government and community relations at Mission, was even more concise.

"We have previously said that we were not going to comment, and we continue to refrain from comment," she said.