Important update on our contract with Portneuf Medical Center
June 15, 2026
Regence has engaged in good-faith negotiations with Portneuf Medical Center’s owner and operator, Ardent Health, to keep their providers and facilities in our network.
However, they ultimately decided to walk away from a competitive multi-year offer from Regence. Our proposed agreement offered Ardent Health rate increases that more than cover the cost of care for Regence patients.
As a result, Portneuf Medical Center’s providers and facilities listed below are out of the Regence network effective June 15, 2026. However, because of a 30-day Continuation of Services clause in the contract, Regence members have access to Portneuf facilities and providers at in-network rates and benefits through July 14, 2026, without threat of balance billing. This will allow members time to transition to a new, in-network provider if needed.
- Portneuf Medical Center
- Pocatello Health Services
- PHS Ambulatory Services
- Portneuf Ambulatory Surgical Center
This is not the outcome we had worked toward. Our goal is always to provide our members access to high-quality healthcare at an affordable price. We are disappointed in Ardent Health’s response; however, we need to stand up for affordability for our employer group customers and members.
We understand the concern and trouble this causes our members, and we remain committed to continuing discussions with Ardent Health to bring Portneuf Medical Center’s facilities and providers back in network.
Below are some important points for members currently undergoing treatment for serious conditions:
Continuity of Care for members in current treatment
If you receive ongoing care for certain conditions from Portneuf Medical Center providers and facilities, you have the right to elect continued in-network care for a limited time. Please call us at the number on the back of your member ID card to confirm eligibility and elect to receive transitional care. Eligible conditions include:
- Seeing the provider for a serious or complex condition, including certain chronic conditions
- Undergoing a course of institutional or inpatient care from the provider
- Being scheduled for nonelective surgery from the provider
- Being pregnant and seeing the provider for pregnancy-related care
- Being determined to be terminally ill
How we’re supporting you during this time
If you need help with appointments or access to care, please call us at the number on the back of your member ID card. We have a dedicated customer service team ready to assist with any questions or concerns.
As noted above, we will continue to work with Ardent Health’s leadership to reach agreement on reimbursement rates that meet the needs of our members and the businesses we serve.
Updated on April 24, 2026
The leaders of Portneuf Medical Center have informed us that they wish to end their contract with Regence for Commercial and Individual plan members on June 15, 2026, if we do not agree to an increase in what we pay them to provide care to our members.
This negotiation includes the following facilities, services and providers:
- Portneuf Medical Center
- Pocatello Health Services
- PHS Ambulatory Services
- Portneuf Ambulatory Surgical Center
Portneuf Medical Center’s owner and operator, Tennessee-based, for-profit Ardent Health, is asking for double digit increases in reimbursement rates, more than twice the rate of inflation. As your local, nonprofit health plan, our premiums directly reflect the prices provider systems charge for health care. While we are open to negotiating increases, we cannot accept the rates currently being demanded by Ardent Health’s executives.
If Ardent Health chooses to remove Portneuf’s providers and facilities from the Regence Idaho network on June 15, 2026, a selection of alternative facilities and providers that will remain in network for most plans are included below. This is not a comprehensive list. Members can find in-network providers by signing in at regence.com or on the Regence app and selecting Find Care.
| Hospitals | |
| Bingham Memorial Hospital | Blackfoot, ID |
| Caribou Medical Center | Soda Springs, ID |
| Mountain View Hospital | Idaho Falls, ID |
| Idaho Falls Community Hospital | Idaho Falls, ID |
| Mountain River Birthing Center dba Grove Creek | Blackfoot, ID |
| Primary Care/Multispecialty Clinics | |
| Bingham Memorial Clinics | Pocatello, ID |
| MVH PIC (Physicians Immediate Care) | Pocatello, ID |
| Brandon A West Clinic | Pocatello, ID |
| Health West | Chubbuck, ID |
| Intermountain Medical Clinic | Pocatello, ID |
In addition, the following virtual providers may be in your Regence network. Members can confirm the network status of virtual providers by signing in at regence.com and choosing Find Care to search for virtual providers.
| Provider | Specialty |
| Doctor on Demand (doctorondemand.com) | On-demand access to medical and behavioral health providers |
| Hinge Health (hingehealth.com) | Virtual physical therapy |
| AbleTo (ableto.com) | Mental health therapy for ages 18+ |
| Charlie Health (charliehealth.com) | Behavioral health services for ages 11-34 |
| Equip (equip.com) | Treatment for eating disorders for all ages |
| Talkspace (talkspace.com) | Behavioral health counseling for ages 13+; psychiatry/medication management for ages 18+ |
| Boulder Care (boulder.care) | Substance use disorder treatment |
| Vynca (vyncacare.com) | Palliative care |
| NOCD (treatmyocd.com) | Treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorders for ages 6+ |
If you are currently receiving care from Portneuf Medical Center providers
If you receive ongoing care for certain conditions from Portneuf Medical Center providers and facilities, you may have the right to elect continued in-network care for a limited time. Please call us at the number on the back of your member ID card to confirm eligibility and elect to receive transitional care. Eligible conditions include:
- Seeing the provider for a serious or complex condition, including certain chronic conditions
- Undergoing a course of institutional or inpatient care from the provider
- Being scheduled for nonelective surgery from the provider
- Being pregnant and seeing the provider for pregnancy-related care
- Being determined to be terminally ill
In an emergency, you should seek care at the closest hospital. Care for an emergency medical condition will be covered as in-network because of the federal No Surprises Act. However, your out-of-pocket costs will vary depending on your health plan.
Regence has provided Idahoans access to high-quality health care for 80 years. We invest 87 cents of every premium dollar directly into our members’ health care. So, when providers demand more money, local businesses and health plan members will pay more for their health care. We are actively working with Ardent Health’s executives and their consultant to come to an agreement that strikes the balance of reasonable reimbursement rates and providing our members access to high-quality, cost-effective care in their community.
We are here to help
Members with questions or concerns can sign in at regence.com or use the Regence app and select Contact us and Chat now. Members can also call the number on the back of their member ID card.
