Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Hartford HealthCare hospital network reached a multi-year contract agreement late Thursday that will keep The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich and four other hospitals that are part of Hartford HealthCare in Anthem’s network.
Hartford HealthCare’s acute care hospitals will remain in Anthem’s network as participating providers with no service interruption, according to a joint press release by the two sides.
The state’s largest private insurer, which provides coverage for about 1.2 million residents, and Hartford HealthCare had on Tuesday failed to reach an agreement. More than 100,000 people covered by Anthem were poised to start paying higher out-of-pocket costs for care at Hartford HealthCare hospitals, which includes Backus.
“We are pleased our members will again have in network access to Hartford HealthCare’s hospitals and facilities,” said Jill R. Hummel, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “We are particularly excited by this new arrangement because of its focus on patient centered care and value based payment. This collaboration presents an excellent opportunity for Anthem and HHC to work together to improve patient health and outcomes while reducing the costs associated with avoidable admissions and ER visits.”
Elliot Joseph, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare, said of the agreement: “For years, Anthem members have chosen Hartford HealthCare as their preferred health system because they recognize the high-quality health care services our hospitals and facilities provide. This new agreement allows us to work together to continue improving quality, enhancing access to care and making health care more affordable.”
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy commended the two sides for coming to an agreement. “I want to commend Anthem and Hartford Healthcare for reaching an agreement, one that avoids any disruption of service and maintains access to quality, affordable healthcare,” he said in a news release. “It’s all too common in matters like this for the different sides to dig in and make negotiations more difficult. I’m glad that didn’t happen in this case.”
Comptroller Kevin Lembo said in the release from the governor’s office: “Our office has been engaged with Hartford HealthCare and Anthem for several weeks to assist in reaching an outcome that protects patient access to both the hospitals and associated groups. I am grateful that this contract agreement will prevent any disruption in service to patients, including state employees, retirees and their families.”
Date: October 03, 2014