Unity Healthcare Votes to Terminate Anthem Contract

Unity Healthcare Votes to Terminate Anthem Contract (65.04 KB)

Unity Healthcare management team and physicians have reached a decision to terminate their contract with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield effective January 1, 2010. The decision was in response to Anthem's proposal that includes significant cuts to reimbursement rates to Unity Healthcare providers. Approximately 60,000 area residents will be affected.

In an environment of physician and nurse shortages, as well as rapid advances in treatments and technologies, reimbursement rates are the key to establishing and maintaining a high-quality healthcare system.

"Decreasing reimbursement rates will have a direct, negative effect on our ability to invest in quality physicians, staff, new technologies and infrastructure," said Gary Prah, M.D., President of Unity Healthcare. "Anthem's proposal, combined with our region's current physician shortage, may force patients to pay out-of-network penalties, wait longer to see a physician and increase the likelihood of out-of-town travel for treatments and procedures currently available at our facilities."

Unity Healthcare leaders will continue to meet with Anthem in hopes that an agreement can be reached. In the interim, Unity is encouraging patients with Anthem coverage to learn more about the issues at unityhc.com/anthem and familiarize themselves with alternate insurance providers including Cigna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare.