PORLTAND, Maine (WMTW) – Medical care for thousands of Mainers remains uncertain as Northern Light Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield continue contract negotiations with just one month left before their current agreement expires.
If the two sides fail to reach a deal by Sept. 30, Anthem-insured patients may be forced to seek care outside the Northern Light Health system.
At the heart of the disagreement is reimbursement: the amount Anthem pays Northern Light for patient care. The hospital system says reimbursement rates need to increase to keep pace with inflation, while Anthem claims Northern Light is seeking a 30% price increase over three years — a rate the insurer says exceeds what other Maine hospital systems charge.
Contract disputes between health systems and insurers are not uncommon in Maine. In 2022, MaineHealth announced plans to end its contract with Anthem over similar reimbursement concerns, though both parties ultimately reached an agreement before patients were affected. The following year, Covenant Health finalized its deal with Anthem on the same day its contract was set to expire.
As negotiations continue, no immediate action is required from patients.
Copyright 2025 WABI. All rights reserved.