Franciscan Missionaries and Blue Cross reach agreement

By Margarita Snegireva. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana reached agreement to renew the system’s contract for two more years just hours before their previous contract was to expire.

Photo: Franciscan Missionaries and Blue Cross reach agreement

News media were alerted of the successful negotiations between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana and the hospital system, which includes Our Lady of Lourdes, just before 10 p.m. Thursday. The contract was set to expire today, but customers should expect no interruption in their coverage if using a FMOL facility.

Contract negotiations had been ongoing for the past six months, but the hospital system’s requests for higher reimbursements couldn’t be met by the insurance provider. And last week, the two entities made an announcement that they were at an impasse on negotiations and customers would have to prepare to pay out-of-network costs to receive care at the system’s hospitals, including Our Lady of Lourdes in Lafayette.