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Mount Sinai Today
By the People, for the People
Hospitals and Insurers Battle Over Costs, Leaving Patients in Limbo
Disputes between healthcare providers and insurance companies are becoming more common, disrupting patient care.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
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A contract dispute between Mount Sinai Health System in New York City and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has left patient Natalie Reichel, who is due for cancer treatment in March, uncertain about whether she'll be able to receive her care on time. The dispute is over money, with Mount Sinai saying Anthem owes it over $450 million in unpaid claims, while Anthem argues that Mount Sinai is demanding a 50% rate increase. As a result, Mount Sinai's physicians went out of network for most Anthem plans on January 1, though its hospitals and facilities remain in-network until March 1.
Why it matters
These types of disputes between hospitals and insurers are becoming more common as healthcare costs continue to rise, with insurers pushing back against provider demands for higher reimbursement rates. This can leave patients caught in the middle, facing disruptions to their care and potentially higher out-of-pocket costs.
The details
Reichel, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 33, has been in remission for about six years and regularly receives hormone-suppressing shots to reduce the risk of her cancer returning. She is worried about the impact the contract dispute could have on her treatment schedule. Researchers have found that about 1 in 5 hospitals have had at least one public dispute with an insurance company since 2021, with around 8% of hospitals going out of network for a time. Rising healthcare costs, with hospital expenses growing 5.1% in 2024, are a major driver of these disputes as insurers try to keep costs down.
- Mount Sinai's physicians went out of network for most Anthem plans on January 1, 2026.
- Mount Sinai's hospitals and facilities are set to go out of network for Anthem on March 1, 2026.
The players
Natalie Reichel
A 40-year-old patient who is due for cancer treatment in March and is uncertain whether she'll be able to receive her care on time due to the contract dispute between Mount Sinai and Anthem.
Mount Sinai Health System
A healthcare provider in New York City that is in a contract dispute with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield over reimbursement rates.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
An insurance company that is in a contract dispute with Mount Sinai Health System over reimbursement rates.
Brent Estes
The chief managed care officer at Mount Sinai and the lead negotiator in the Anthem dispute.
Jason Buxbaum
A researcher at Brown University who has been tracking disputes between hospitals and insurers since 2021.
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Natalie Reichel to receive continuity of care approval to continue seeing her doctors at Mount Sinai despite the contract dispute.
The takeaway
This case highlights the growing tensions between hospitals and insurers over rising healthcare costs, with patients often caught in the middle facing disruptions to their care and potentially higher out-of-pocket expenses. It underscores the need for greater transparency and collaboration between providers and payers to ensure patients can access the care they need without facing these kinds of contract disputes.
