The Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic network status with Regence BlueShield/Uniform Medical Plan
Updated: January 18, 2022
Ongoing negotiations do not affect UMP Classic Medicare
Current negotiations between Regence and Optum (negotiating for The Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic) are for a contract that ended in early December 2022 for Regence's Medicare Advantage plans. These plans are not offered by the PEBB Program and are not available to PEBB retirees.
On December 22, 2022, Regence and The Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic reached a new multi-year commercial network agreement. The new agreement applies to all Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) plan, including UMP Classic Medicare. Regence mailed letters to notify affected UMP members that they may continue to receive care from The Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic at the provider network rate.
What happened?
The Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic have contracts with Regence BlueShield, related to the PEBB and SEBB Program UMP plans, that were set to expire on December 19, 2022. This would have had different impacts for employee and non-Medicare retiree population than for UMP Classic Medicare members. Regence mailed letters on November 15 to affected members on behalf of each clinic. Several letters sent initially had an incorrect termination date of December 5, 2022, so correction letters went out on November 18.
Late on December 18, 2022, the contracts were extended through December 23, 2022. On December 22, 2022, the parties reached a new multi-year agreement.
Did this network contract issue only affect Regence's UMP members?
No. The Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic network contracts were being negotiated for all of Regence’s medical plans in Washington State.
Which PEBB and SEBB members are affected?
The Everett Clinic currently serves 5,498 members enrolled in Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) Classic (including Medicare), Select, Achieve 1, Achieve 2, Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP), and High Deductible plans. It also serves 1,357 UMP Plus members.
The Polyclinic currently serves 10,842 members enrolled in UMP Classic (including Medicare), Select, Achieve 1, Achieve 2, CDHP, and High Deductible plans. It also serves 996 UMP Plus members.
This primarily affects members that live in the following counties:
- Chelan (The Polyclinic only)
- King
- Pierce
- Snohomish
- Whatcom
The UMP Plus plans (Puget Sound High Value Network and UW Medicine Accountable Care Network) have a limited network compared to other UMP plans. The Everett Clinic and The Polyclinic are currently network providers for the Puget Sound High Value Network (PSHVN).
Who can I contact with questions?
For questions or help finding a preferred provider:
- PEBB members: Call UMP Customer Service at 1-888-849-3681 (TRS: 711) or find doctors.
- SEBB members: Call UMP Customer Service at 1-800-628-3481 (TRS: 711) or find doctors.