Cigna, Community Medical Centers dispute could affect Fresno County patients
Cigna patients at three Fresno hospitals could face full out-of-network bills after July 15 if contract talks with Community Medical Centers fail.
Cigna patients at Community Regional Medical Center, Clovis Community Medical Center and Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital could be out of network after July 15 if Cigna Healthcare and Community Medical Centers do not reach a new deal. A June 22 letter from Cigna said negotiations were still underway, and patients who keep appointments there after the deadline could face much higher bills.
Doctor visits, surgeries and ongoing treatment at those three hospitals could be treated as out of network if there is no agreement, which could leave many Cigna customers on the hook for the full cost. Some policyholders may be able to seek continuity of care so treatment continues at in-network benefit levels for a limited time, but that depends on the plan and the patient’s situation.
Community Medical Centers is seeking reimbursement rates that cover rising labor, pharmaceutical and operating costs. The health system is locally owned and the region’s largest healthcare provider and private employer. Its network includes Community Regional Medical Center, Clovis Community Medical Center, Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital, Community Behavioral Health Center, Community Subacute & Transitional Care Center, Community Home Health, Community Cancer Institute and Community Health Partners.
Anyone with treatment scheduled after July 15 should check whether Cigna still counts the hospital or doctor as in network, whether continuity of care applies and whether any authorization or referral needs to be updated before the deadline hits.
The Cigna dispute follows a separate standoff between Community and Blue Shield of California that ended June 23 with a new multi-year agreement. That deal restored in-network access for HMO, PPO, Medicare Advantage and ASO members and was made retroactive to Feb. 1, after Blue Shield said Community facilities and affiliated doctors were out of network since that date. Blue Shield and Community had been in conflict for about four months before the agreement was reached.
A similar Cigna-Community dispute in January 2025 delayed surgeries and made alternate plans necessary until a deal was finally struck months later.
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