State Health Plan to take Atrium Health out of network, NC treasurer says

Key Points:

• Starting next year, most hospitals and doctors' offices within Atrium Health will be removed from the State Health Plan's network due to ongoing disputes over healthcare pricing, according to North Carolina Treasurer Brad Briner.
• The State Health Plan, covering over 750,000 state employees and retirees, faces a significant deficit, prompting Briner to implement premium increases and a tiered provider system to encourage use of lower-cost providers.
• Atrium Health, the largest healthcare chain in North Carolina, introduced a program to subsidize higher costs for state employee patients to retain them, but Briner sued to stop this, arguing it interfered with the plan’s financial integrity; however, a judge ruled in Atrium’s favor.
• Following the court decision, the State Health Plan intends to take Atrium out of network, though Briner stated this should not affect patients if Atrium continues subsidizing the cost differences as planned.
• Briner emphasized his commitment to maintaining the financial solvency of the State Health Plan to protect state employees and retirees from increased premiums and potential debt.