Ballad Health/BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee negotiations continue

Ballad Health is in “active negotiations” to extend its contract with insurance company, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and is expecting to reach an agreement before the current contract expires Jan. 1. A statement from BlueCross BlueShield said Ballad has asked for rate increases that amount to tens of millions more than the current arrangement. The two companies are in negotiations, but if an agreement can’t be reached by January first, Ballad hospitals and affiliated providers would leave the network, leaving patient’s insurance coverage in limbo.