Blue Cross and Blue Shield-OSF Negotiations

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois said it is still open to reaching an agreement with OSF Healthcare to keep the hospital system in network after Jan. 1.

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is committed to our members, our group customers, as well as the communities we serve. Our current PPO and BlueChoice® contracts with St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford and St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, each a part of the Order of St. Francis HealthCare System (OSF), no longer serve BCBSIL’s aim to continue to broaden our members’ access to network providers and further enhance our network and product offerings," said the company in a statement. "Our mission is to continue to provide access to quality, cost-effective healthcare in Illinois. That includes creating and designing networks that balance access and affordability of care. We are open to continuing contract discussions with the goal of reaching an agreement that benefits our members and customers.”

Should an agreement not be reached, it will affect OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington and OSF HealthCare Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac, but not physicians' offices. Advocate hospitals in Central Illinois are not affected.