Contract Negotiations Continue Between Memorial Hospital and Anthem, Future Unclear

FROM LOCAL SOURCES

JASPER -- Memorial Hospital in Jasper has been informed by Anthem that their contract would expire on November 27, 2019. This contract with Anthem BlueCross BlueShield (Anthem) includes the care Anthem members receive through Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center and Memorial Hospital Physician Offices.

Memorial Hospital has been working diligently for three years to reach a mutually agreed upon contract with Anthem so our patients can continue to have access to the highest quality, affordable care locally. While our focus remains on renewing this contract to preserve continued access to Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center’s high-quality, dedicated providers and staff, we have yet to reach a mutually agreed upon contract.

For years, Anthem has paid Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center and its employed physicians significantly less than other providers in the region. “Memorial Hospital proudly serves as one of the region’s lowest cost providers of care with the highest quality outcomes,” said E. Kyle Bennett, President and CEO of Memorial Hospital. “But Anthem’s low payments are just not sustainable. We are looking to be reimbursed at rates comparable with other providers in the region – nothing more, nothing less. We must fix our contract with fair, competitive rates from Anthem so we can secure our future and continue serving as our region’s trusted source for high-quality care.”

In order to make real progress toward a new agreement, Memorial Hospital needs Anthem to engage in meaningful discussions, and recognize the impact inadequate reimbursement has on health care in Dubois and surrounding counties. Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of residents in an eight-county service area. If Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center and Memorial Hospital Physicians are not in Anthem’s network, residents will be forced to drive long distances to seek in-network care that should otherwise be accessible to them locally.

Memorial Hospital has set up a web page to provide answers to frequently asked questions and a contact phone number for specific questions. Patients and members can visit this site at www.mhhcc.org/myinsuranceplan or call (812) 996-6399. Concerned Anthem members may also contact Anthem Member Services at the number on the back of their ID cards to express their opinion that Anthem should engage in meaningful discussions to keep Memorial Hospital in-network.

Between now and November 27, 2019, when Memorial Hospital’s current contract expires, nothing changes for members insured with Anthem. Until then, Anthem members will continue to be covered when seeing their physicians or seeking treatment at Memorial Hospital’s facilities.

Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center Emergency Department will always be open for everyone, regardless of its contract status. Individuals experiencing a medical emergency should seek treatment at the closest ED.

As a regional health center with approximately 1,800 employees and approximately 250 physicians and advanced practice providers on the Medical Staff, Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center serves residents of eight counties in southwestern Indiana with medical offices located in Bristow, Dale, Ferdinand, French Lick, Holland, Huntingburg, Jasper, Loogootee, Montgomery, Petersburg, Santa Claus, Shoals, and Washington. Annually, the hospital’s staff provides medical care for approximately 6,600 inpatients, 250,000 outpatients, 29,000 emergency patients, and 950 newborns.

Memorial Hospital has recently been recognized nationally by being the recipient of the 2018 Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award. This recognition is a presidential-level honor that recognizes exemplary U.S. organizations and businesses that demonstrate an unceasing drive for radical innovation, thoughtful leadership, and administrative improvement. For more information about Memorial Hospital, please visit the website, www.mhhcc.org.