CommonSpirit, Cigna Reach Agreement Restoring In-Network Coverage for Patients

Patients across the Chattanooga region who were caught in the middle of a contract dispute between CommonSpirit Health and Cigna now have clarity.

CommonSpirit Health facilities in Tennessee and Georgia have reached a new agreement with Cigna, restoring in-network access for many patients.

The agreement covers CommonSpirit Memorial Hospitals, CommonSpirit Medical Group, and The Chattanooga Heart Institute. It applies to Cigna members with employer-sponsored Open Access and LocalPlus plans.

Officials say the deal is retroactive to February 1, meaning coverage will be treated as continuous for patients who may have been impacted during the negotiations.

The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty for patients who rely on those providers for care. Earlier concerns centered on whether coverage would continue if the two sides failed to reach an agreement.

With the new deal in place, CommonSpirit says patients will be able to continue seeing their current doctors and using the same facilities without interruption.

The health system called the agreement a positive outcome, emphasizing the importance of maintaining access to local healthcare services.

CommonSpirit officials say their goal throughout the negotiation process was to ensure they can continue meeting patient needs now and in the future.