After almost two years of negotiations that left many local people paying for insurance coverage that wasn’t honored at the region’s only hospital, Regence BlueShield and Harrison Hospital announced they have signed a contract, effective April 1. The two reached agreement on Feb. 24. The organizations have engaged in discussions since May 2003 when their longtime contract ended over reimbursement issues for patient care.

With Harrison once again part of the Regence network, Regence members will have access to coverage for non-emergency care and treatment at Harrison. Regence did continue to cover emergency care at Harrison for those members affected.

“This agreement will allow both Regence and Harrison to better serve healthcare consumers in the Kitsap County area, and we appreciate the hospital’s willingness to continue talking,” said Mary O. McWilliams, Regence BlueShield president. “While we have disagreed on rates, we have always been in agreement about needing to resolve our differences for the benefit of consumers.”

The reunion of Harrison and Regence is important on many levels; most especially for Regence members who again have access to routine care and treatment close to home says Harrison president and CEO Scott Bosch. “It’s equally beneficial for our local physicians, many of whom had to refer their patients to facilities outside the area. Economically, our entire community benefits when healthcare dollars stay local.”.