Arizona’s largest pediatric hospital system back in network of state’s largest health insurer

After a heated contract dispute last year, Phoenix Children’s and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Arizona, or AZ Blue, are back together again.

The two giants had been negotiating nearly all of 2024 on a contract to provide health insurance coverage to patients at the pediatric health system across Arizona, but failed to meet an Oct. 30 deadline.

At the time, they didn’t mince words.

Phoenix Children’s alleged that the health insurer denied more than 10% of claims it submitted, resulting in annual reductions of $21 million.

Back then, AZ Blue executives said they were baffled that the children’s health system turned down an $80 million raise, but Phoenix Children’s said that offer actually was closer to $43 million when accounting for several factors, including wrongful denials.

This story is posted in partnership with Phoenix Business Journal. Click to read the full story.

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