I have been fortunate to serve the community of Toledo as a physician for 39 years, and it’s been an honor working with so many patients to help ensure they have access to compassionate, high-quality care throughout their health-care journey. As a Mercy Health pulmonary-critical care physician, my goal throughout my career has been to help prevent illness and support my patients’ health.
This is why I’m concerned about the challenge Mercy Health is having with its ongoing negotiations with Cigna. Our team has been negotiating in good faith for several months, working to secure fair reimbursements for the care we provide every day. Despite meeting regularly, we have been unable to reach an agreement, and nearly 7,000 of our commercially insured patients with Cigna insurance may be out of network on April 1.
Commercially insured patients have insurance through their employer. If Mercy Health is forced out of the Cigna network, our patients will need to find new doctors or be forced to pay higher out-of-network costs. I understand this can be a hard decision, and I also know that the relationship between a patient and provider is unique, built on years of trust and understanding. It is painful to hear patients are now worried about finding new doctors when the care they need and expect is already here at Mercy Health.
As providers of care in this community, my colleagues and I are here to help our northwest Ohio neighbors ensure they can continue seeing their Mercy Health providers well into the future.
To help us reach a resolution with Cigna, we ask our patients take two important steps:
First, call Cigna at the number on the back of your insurance card and let them know how important it is for you to keep Mercy Health doctors in-network.
Our providers want to continue to serve their patients, and the fact that insurance companies are making decisions for you about who you can see for care is disheartening to say the least.
Second, work with your provider to see if you might be eligible for continuity of care. Certain conditions — such as care for chronic or complex illnesses or pregnancy — may be eligible for continuity of care, allowing approved patients the opportunity to continue seeing their current care team at in-network rates, even if Mercy Health is out of network with Cigna. Patients can work with their providers to request a continuity of care provision from Cigna, and Cigna alone will decide whether to approve or deny the request.
For 170 years, Mercy Health has served this community as your trusted health-care provider, and we remain committed to improving your health and well-being. That will never change.
Doctor-patient relationships are key to good health, and I sincerely hope we can move forward with Cigna to serve our patients for years to come.
We will continue to keep our patients informed at www.mercy.com/cigna-updates
DR. JAMES TITA
Chief clinical officer
Mercy Health — Toledo
First Published March 22, 2025, 4:00 a.m.
