Patients coming to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center can again use health insurance provider Blue Shield of California to pay for their medical expenses, now that a contract dispute between the insurance company and the University of California health system has been resolved, the Los Angeles Times reported today.
Since last fall, UCLA and Blue Shield have disagreed over reimbursement rates ““ or the amount of money an insurance company pays for a member to get treatment at a hospital. Blue Shield eventually cut ties with UCLA, forcing patients to visit another health care provider or pay all expenses at a UC hospital out-of-pocket.
The new agreement with all UC healthcare providers, effective Sept. 1, allows Blue Shield patients to again seek treatment at the UCLA Medical Center and the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopedic Hospital, the L.A. Times reported. The contract will run through June 30, 2015.
“After more than a year of discussions, we are gratified that the University of California providers worked with us to come to an agreement on rates that will help keep care more affordable for our members,” Paul Markovich, Blue Shield’s president and chief operating officer, told the L.A. Times.
Compiled by Kylie Reynolds, Bruin senior staff.