With negotiations going down to the wire, Naples Comprehensive Health and Florida Blue agreed on a new three-year contract late in the day Sept. 30 that will keep almost 40,000 of the insurance carrier’s members in network with the health care system.

Without a contract in place by Oct. 1, NCH would have been out of network for those covered by Florida Blue, resulting in higher out-of-pocket payments for those choosing to use NCH services, facilities and physicians.

Now, with a new contract in place, NCH—which among all other health care services and programs it provides is also the only birthing center in Collier County—will remain part of the Florida Blue network.

Florida Blue released a statement Oct. 1 announcing the agreement.

“We are pleased to announce that Florida Blue and Naples Comprehensive Health have reached a multiyear agreement and ensure that there will be no disruption to the members and patients we both serve,” said Phillip Lee, West Florida market president. “Our members will continue to have in-network access to NCH doctors, hospitals and facilities. As we’ve proudly done for 80 years, Florida Blue looks forward to delivering affordable health solutions and serving the needs of Collier County.”

NCH also released a statement Oct. 1 about the agreement, noting that the renewed contract and in-network status remains in place for the next three years and “represents a fair agreement with mutually agreed upon quality goals and rewards based on efficiency. This new agreement also brings NCH into alignment with reimbursement rates that other local health providers currently receive from Florida Blue.”

At issue in the negotiations was the reimbursement rate being offered by Florida Blue, which NCH said was 30% to 40% less than what was being paid to many of its regional competitors. Terms of the new deal weren’t immediately made available.

This story will be updated.