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Blue Shield warns Sutter negotiation breakdown could force thousands of San Francisco members to change doctors
Summary
Blue Shield of California officials told the Health Service Board that termination of their Sutter Health contract, driven in part by a proposed arbitration clause, could require about 5,700 members to change primary care doctors and prompt April 1 transitions if no agreement is reached.
Blue Shield of California officials said a breakdown in contract talks with Sutter Health has put thousands of Health Service System members at risk of losing in-network access to Sutter hospitals and some specialists.
Tom Epstein, Blue Shield's vice president for public affairs, told the Health Service Board on Jan. 8 that negotiations faltered after Sutter sought new contract language that would require arbitration and bar customers from suing Sutter in open court. Epstein said Blue Shield rejected that clause and continued to negotiate "in hopes that we can resolve this before any members…
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