Many patients and their families will lose in-network access to Piedmont Medical Center hospitals and doctors if Cigna continues to refuse to negotiate in good faith on a contract renewal with the system set to expire on December 31st. The only exception will be for emergency care, which Cigna will have to provide in-network coverage for by law, regardless of whether an agreement is reached.
Cigna, one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies, has so far refused reasonable rate increases to allow the Piedmont Medical Center Market to remain in network for their clients. If Cigna fails to close a deal by the New Year’s Eve deadline, patients with their insurance will be forced to pay substantially higher out of pocket costs to keep their current PMC providers or will have to leave Piedmont Medical Center’s network all together.
“We are working overtime to get this done for our patients, but Cigna’s current offer is nowhere near what it takes to deliver the high-quality health care and professionalism that our patients have come to rely on and deserve,” said Teresa Urquhart, Market CEO for Piedmont Medical Center. “This is a pattern for Cigna, an insurance company who likes to let these contracts expire, ignoring the immense stress they are placing on patients and families who just want to keep their current providers.”
Cigna has come under fire across the country for what many critics say is a shameful approach to health care reimbursement. This has played out in places including California, where the company is defending a federal lawsuit against allegations it used algorithms to reject patient claims.
Many medical professionals have criticized Cigna’s reimbursement policies as inadequate and harmful to patient care. Hospital officials say Cigna refuses to pay fair rates that reflect current healthcare costs, while families losing in-network coverage could be hit with out-of-pocket increases of $6,000 or more annually.
Hospital officials point to successful negotiations with other major insurance providers as evidence that reasonable agreements can be reached when both sides prioritize patient access over corporate bottom lines. Growth in health care spending continues to soar – jumping from 4.6 percent in 2022 to 7.5 percent in 2023 – according to a recent report by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS.) Inflation, wages, the cost of prescription drugs and other factors have contributed to the spike in health care costs, the report explains.
If Cigna won’t reach a deal with Piedmont Medical Center, their clients are at risk of losing in-network coverage beyond emergency care, including access to the Level III trauma center in York County. The dispute could also impact many local businesses, whose employees chose Cigna’s healthcare plan with the promise that Piedmont Medical Center facilities and doctors would be in network. That would no longer be the case if contract talks fail.
As the deadline for a new contract approaches thousands of families are left in limbo, hoping that Cigna will make an offer that puts patients first, not profits. For now, patients who are Cigna members can continue with scheduled appointments and procedures at Piedmont facilities, as no changes will occur before January 1, 2026. Visit our website at www.KeepYourHealthcareAccess.com for more information and for ways to urge Cigna to keep your trusted providers in-network.
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About Piedmont Medical Center – Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill (PMC) is a 282-bed full-service, Level III trauma hospital with a Level III NICU, along with a comprehensive heart and vascular center that serves York County and beyond. Recently, PMC opened Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, a 100-bed community hospital providing robotic surgical services, orthopedics, and OB services to further serve the community. PMC offers emergency services at three locations, Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Gold Hill. PMC provides imaging services through the Women’s Diagnostic Center at PMC-Rock Hill and Baxter Village in Fort Mill.
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