Community Health System, Anthem Agreement Ends
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowCommunity Healthcare System in Munster and Indianapolis-based Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield have failed to reach a coverage and service extension. The contract termination affects customers at Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.
Patients using the Indianapolis-based insurer will now be considered "out-of-network" at the health system. You can connect to more specifics about plans affected by clicking here.
Community Healthcare System Chief Executive Officer John Gorski said in a statement:
"We have worked hard to negotiate a new contract, but we remain very far apart on what would constitute a fair and sustainable compromise. We are very sensitive to controlling the cost of healthcare and work very hard to provide value to patients, employer groups and insurance providers. We are only seeking a fair reimbursement for the high quality care we provide. We recognize that Anthem did not give sufficient notice to many of its members of this termination. As a result, we want to minimize any hardships or inconveniences our patients may experience. For a 60-day period ending February 29, 2016, Community Healthcare System will not ask patients to pay any more than they would pay us as an ‘in-network’ provider."
He adds the system will continue to "do our best" to reach a new contract with Anthem. If a deal cannot be reached, he said "we will explore ways we can help our patients and employer groups find alternatives that will honor those choices."