Premera Blue Cross Asks Confluence Health to Re-Engage in Negotiations

Premera Blue Cross provided a written statement to KPQ when asked for a response regarding the disruption in negotiations.

It says, "Despite Confluence’s decision to end the negotiation, we believe it is in the best interest of our customers and the community, that we continue these critical conversations as this type of discussion takes time and isn’t a sprint."

Premera Blue Cross declined to provide the number of North Central Washington residents that are in their plans that might be effected.

Here is their full statement:

"We fully believe we can reach an agreement with Confluence that provides the people we serve with affordable, high-quality healthcare.

We still have a very long runway to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

The key is to stay focused on the work and what’s best for our customers and the community we both serve. 

It is not uncommon for a multi-year contract negotiation to take six to seven months. 

Despite Confluence’s decision to end the negotiation, we believe it is in the best interest of our customers and the community, that we continue these critical conversations as this type of discussion takes time and isn’t a sprint.

We ask that on behalf of the people we both serve, Confluence Health engage in good-faith negotiations in the interest of resolving this issue.

Stop putting the customer in the middle and work with us to come to a reasonable solution."