Recently, MultiCare has been in contract negotiations with both Regence BlueShield (which administers the Uniform Medical Plan [UMP] for PEBB and SEBB members) and Premera Blue Cross (for SEBB members). However, Premera’s contract with MultiCare also impacts PEBB and SEBB members enrolled in UMP because of how BlueCard network access works. The UMP provider network relies on Premera’s provider contracts for most counties in Eastern Washington. The primary impact on UMP would be for MultiCare’s Spokane-area providers. 

Updates

Regence and Premera have come to these agreements with MultiCare: 

• Regence and MultiCare signed a new provider network agreement on the evening of June 2. This means that MultiCare is again in network for UMP members in Grays Harbor, Thurston, and Yakima counties. The agreement is retroactive, meaning that services members received since May 10 will be treated as in-network, as if no interruption in network status occurred. You can view HCA’s updated announcement for more information.

• Premera and MultiCare have reached an agreement to temporarily extend their current contract while negotiations continue for a new long-term agreement. This means that MultiCare will stay in network for SEBB Premera members, and PEBB and SEBB UMP members in the Spokane area, until at least June 30, 2026. View Premera's announcement for the most up-to-date information on contract negotiations and HCA’s announcement for care options. 

We will provide further updates as news develops on the Premera and MultiCare negotiations.