Liberty Hospital, CIGNA Agree to Terms

CIGNA Insurance holders in the area received happy news this week. A letter from the insurance group notified them that CIGNA and Liberty Hospital have agreed to terms and the company will accept claims from Liberty Hospital.

“We're happy to let you know that we have reached an agreement and Liberty Hospital will remain in your commercial network without a break in participation,” stated a notice from CIGNA. “This means that you'll continue to receive coverage for medical services provided by liberty hospital at the in-network rate, subject to the terms of your plan.”

At the end of January, many insurance holders were notified by CIGNA Healthcare that CIGNA and Liberty Hospital have been unable to reach mutually agreeable contract terms. The notification stated that beginning March 1, 2024, Liberty Hospital will no longer be a part of the CIGNA Healthcare network.

The original notice also advised CIGNA customers that these Liberty Hospital areas would be affected in the change: The Pulmonary & Sleep Clinic, Liberty Hospital Physicians, Liberty Cardiovascular Specialists, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, The Liberty Clinic, Liberty Cardiothoracic Surgeons, The Excelsior Springs Clinic, Liberty Hospital Primary Care Shoal Creek, Liberty Hospital Emergency Medicine Physicians, LLC and Liberty Hospital Urgent Care Shoal Creek.  The Kearney Clinic would also be affected by this change.

According to According to Liberty Hospital Public Relations Strategist Michelle Manuel, the hospital and insurance group signed a new agreement to terms.

“We signed a new agreement with Cigna to ensure Liberty Hospital and Clinics remain in-network,” Manuel told KPGZ News. “That agreement will take effect on June 1, 2024. Liberty Hospital providers will not be dropped from the Cigna network.”

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story