Door County Medical Center is flexing its greatest attribute, its staff, when it comes to its dispute with one of the insurance providers it works with within the federal insurance marketplace.

The hospital announced earlier this month that it was terminating its contract with Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative effective January 1st, 2025. The two sides could not come to an agreement when it came to reimbursement for medical services. Door County Medical Center President and CEO Brian Stephens says the two sides have been in talks for the past year, but they could not agree on an increased reimbursement to offset the rising costs hospitals across the country face. The contract termination means patients will have to choose between sticking with their insurance or their medical provider regarding their health. Stephens says that while finding the right plan to fit your needs and budget is important, it is just as crucial to maintain the relationships that patients and doctors have formed.

Stephens expects plans similar to those Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative has offered Door County Medical Center patients since 2018 will be available to them when the federal marketplace's open enrollment window opens on November 1st if a new agreement cannot be reached.