NCH public meeting addresses contract stalemate with Florida Blue

With a Sept. 30 deadline looming for contract negotiations between Naples Comprehensive Health and insurer Florida Blue, the health care system hosted a public meeting Sept. 17 designed to answer community members’ questions about the standoff and further explain its position.

While NCH executives provided a lot of answers, several community members said after the meeting they were still left with a lot of questions—and a lot of concerns as time runs out on the negotiations.

Without a contract by Oct. 1, NCH would no longer be in network for about 40,000 Florida Blue members, resulting in higher out-of-pocket payments for those still choosing to use NCH services, facilities and physicians.

At issue is NCH seeking a 9.5% increase in payment rates from Florida Blue for each year of a three-year contract, down from an initial request of 13.5%. NCH officials said Florida Blue’s last offer was 5% and described the negotiations as ongoing, but “at a stalemate.”

In a news release announcing the public meeting, NCH said it is seeking “fair reimbursement from the insurance company to cover the rising cost of patient care and preserve local access to doctors and vital services for families across Southwest Florida.”

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