West Virginia University Hospitals and Mountain State Blue Cross/Blue Shield agreed to a one-month contract extension Wednesday, providing patients with access to the hospital as an in-network facility through May 31.


�€?The hospital and Mountain State agree that an extension is in the best interests of our patients,�€? said WVUH President Bruce McClymonds. �€?The interim agreement provides for a small upward adjustment in reimbursement to the hospital, to a level that we can accept in the short term in order to maintain services for all our patients.�€?


“We are pleased to reach agreement with WVU Hospitals on this contract extension on behalf of our members,�€? said Gregory K. Smith, president and CEO of Mountain State. �€?We look forward to working diligently with WVU Hospitals representatives to finalize terms on a long term agreement.”


Hospitals that are in an insurance companys network usually have a discount contract with insurers that protects patients from having to pay any amount above the deductible and co-pay required by their plan. The expiring WVUH -Mountain State Blue Cross/Blue Shield contract is  such a discount contract.