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Nebraska insurer rejects medical network's offer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska is rejecting the latest contract offer from one of the state's biggest medical networks because the insurer says the offer still costs too much.

CHI Health officials offered a new agreement to Blue Cross earlier this week that would have cut rates by $10 million. But Blue Cross officials say CHI Health's rates have been roughly $60 million higher in the Omaha market.

So Blue Cross rejected CHI Health's offer on Thursday.

Numerous facilities and doctors affiliated with CHI Health have been out of the Blue Cross network since Sept. 1, so they are significantly more expensive for the insurer's customers.

In several rural Nebraska communities, CHI Health operates the only hospital in town.

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