Tens of thousands of people living in the Capital Region have found themselves in the middle of a contractual stalemate.

CDPHP, the area’s largest health insurer, and St. Peter’s Health Partners are at odds over reimbursement rates.

“Unfortunately, St. Peter’s has chosen to put their patients and our members in the middle of what we consider very routine discussions,” said CDPHP spokeswoman Ali Skinner. “This is not the same St. Peter’s that many of us have come to know and love in our community.”

Both organizations have made negotiations public, sending letters to about 70,000 patients who may be forced to find new providers or a new insurance company should an agreement remain elusive.

CDPHP has taken aim at the hospital’s Michigan-based parent company, Trinity Health.

“They use this larger than life negotiating power to extract higher rates from not-for-profit community-based health plans,” Skinner said.

Hospital leaders at St. Peter’s are accusing the insurer of misinformation.

Nobody from the hospital was available for an on-camera interview Wednesday, but a spokeswoman released a written statement.

“Like most not-for-profit health systems across the country, we are doing all we can to weather the lasting impact of COVID-19, the current economy, rising costs, and the significant workforce shortages we all face,” it read in part.

Taking it a step further, in its letter to patients, a list of alternative insurers was included.

“We cannot accept an unfair rate that jeopardizes our ability to provide the high-quality care our patients and residents depend on and need,” the St. Peter’s statement read.

The current contract expires Jan. 1, 2023. Patients who are pregnant or are receiving long-term care will be eligible for continued care under a 90-day grace period should an agreement not be reached.