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Health Care Dispute Could Leave Many Without Coverage in Delaware

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WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A rift between a medical center and a health care company threatens to suspend coverage for thousands of patients.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that the current contract between Bayhealth Medical Center and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware to reimburse the hospital for its care of the insurer's customers expires May 15.

The medical center and the insurer say they want a resolution but are preparing for a contract lapse. A portion of the 18,000 Highmark customers that use Bayhealth would be affected.

Highmark president Tim Constantine and Bayhealth CEO Terry Murphy say want to allow those with established treatment relationships at the medical center to continue if the contract expires. In the event of a contract lapse, emergency room treatment, Medicare or Medicaid recipients would not be affected.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.