Bold headline: Negotiations over a 2026 renewal between Aspirus St. Luke’s and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are still underway, with both sides negotiating reimbursement terms as talks continue.
Aspirus St. Luke’s and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBSMN) remain in discussions to renew their contract for 2026 and beyond, including the rates paid for services, according to statements from each organization.
Aspirus St. Luke’s stated on Tuesday, December 2, that it is negotiating in good faith with BCBSMN to secure a fair agreement. The goal is to ensure that patients covered by BCBSMN can continue receiving high-quality care from the providers they know and trust in 2026 and beyond.
BCBSMN’s statement notes that if no deal is reached by year-end, the company will assist members in transitioning to other in-network providers and will preserve continuity of care for those who qualify to keep seeing their current Aspirus care teams.
Blue Cross added, “Blue Cross remains committed to ongoing negotiations with Aspirus to renew our agreement for 2026 and beyond. If an agreement is not reached by the end of the year, Blue Cross will proactively support members in transitioning to other area in-network providers while ensuring those who qualify for continuity of care maintain access to their current care teams at Aspirus.”
Aspirus argues that rising costs, workforce shortages, and cuts to Medicaid funding are pressuring operations. It also claims that BCBSMN reimburses Aspirus at lower rates than other Duluth-area providers, even though Aspirus’s overall care costs are lower. “This is not sustainable, and we are advocating for fairness on behalf of our patients and communities,” Aspirus St. Luke’s said.
Blue Cross responded that it is disappointed by Aspirus St. Luke’s decision to end its contract to obtain higher payment rates. The insurer argued that, at a time when collaboration is needed to keep medical costs affordable, Aspirus St. Luke’s is seeking increases well above market norms, noting that Aspirus’s total cost of care already exceeds the state average.
What happens if an agreement isn’t reached?
If no contract is renewed, Aspirus St. Luke’s, Aspirus Lake View Hospital, Northern Lakes Surgery Center, affiliated clinics in Minnesota, and Aspirus locations in Ashland and Superior, Wisconsin, would become out-of-network for Blue Cross members after December 31, 2025.
Both sides confirmed there will be no changes to in-network access to Aspirus St. Luke’s through December 31, 2025.
Related coverage: Aspirus St. Luke’s in Minnesota.
