CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The deadline for MUSC and Cigna Healthcare to come to a new agreement to maintain access for those insured with the company is nearing with both sides pointing fingers but signaling they want to come to agreeable terms.
MUSC announced in April that discussions were ongoing, but that it and Cigna’s missions were “fundamentally different.”
“MUSC Health is a public, mission-driven health system that serves the healthcare needs of South Carolina residents and ensures statewide access to high-quality care,” MUSC said in a statement. “Cigna’s operates under a different model as a publicly traded insurance company where coverage decisions are made alongside obligations to generate returns to its shareholders and investors.”
According to MUSC, Cigna conditioned its proposed agreement on “substantial” changes to the way payments for services are made to the health system, which Cigna defended in a statement to News 4 as more in line with current market standards as
simpler, more predictable pricing approaches used by most providers today.”
“We’ve proposed rate increases close to what the hospital requested and explored alternative options, but MUSC has not offered flexibility around solutions that would strengthen cost guardrails and support more predictable, sustainable costs for families and local employers,” a Cigna spokesperson said. “Our priority remains reaching an agreement that supports affordable, reliable access to care for the people we serve.”
MUSC said it too is committed to reaching an agreement with the healthcare provider and that patients currently receiving care at MUSC Health should continue to keep scheduled appointments.
