NERC to accept all major insurance plans after Cigna deal

Photo | Google New England Recovery Center operates on this Spectrum Health Systems campus in Westborough.

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By Zachary Comeau

The Westborough-based New England Recovery Center said Monday it now accepts all major insurance plans for substance abuse disorder.

The announcement comes after a new partnership with Philadelphia-based health insurer Cigna, said NERC, which is owned by Worcester-based Spectrum Health Systems.

The accessibility of quality, evidence-based treatment is absolutely crucial in the midst of this harrowing opioid epidemic, and we are pleased to be able to welcome new clients as a result of this partnership,” Spectrum CEO Kurt Isaacson said in a statement. “Long-term inpatient treatment is a key component of a well-rounded recovery plan, and we’ve fought hard to provide that opportunity to anybody who needs it – despite insurance coverage. We will continue to find ways to improve access to treatment for all.”

NERC provides detoxification and inpatient addiction treatment for both private pay and commercially-insured clients in two facilities on Spectrum’s Westborough campus.

In addition to Cigna, NERC accepts Aetna, Optum, Beacon, Tufts Commercial and Mass Laborers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Lower Hudson Valley and more.

The announcement comes almost a week after Saint Vincent Hospital parent Tenet Healthcare said it reached a deal with Cigna that gives Cigna members uninterrupted in-network access to Tenet providers, including hospitals and outpatient centers.