OhioHealth and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield have reached an agreement to keep thousands of patients covered by the insurance provider at Ohio's largest healthcare provider.
The non-profit hospital system and insurance company jointly announced the agreement on a new network participation contract in a joint press release on Friday. The two say the multi-year agreement continues uninterrupted access to care at OhioHealth hospitals, facilities and physician practices for Anthem members in all health plans, including employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid health plan networks.
Anthem's Ohio President Jane Peterson said in a statement she is glad to continue the company's longstanding relationship with OhioHealth.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about making sure people get the right care at the right time 鈥� care that leads to better health outcomes, more support for individuals鈥� whole health, and ultimately lower costs for individuals, families, and employers across central Ohio," Peterson said.
A spokesperson for Anthem said approximately 112,000 members would have been impacted if a deal hadn't been reached. OhioHealth has 16 hospitals, three joint-venture hospitals, more than 200 ambulatory sites and other health services spanning a 50-county area.
Carrie Harris-Muller, OhioHealth's senior vice president and chief population health officer, said OhioHealth's priority is, and will always be, improving the health of those it serves.
"We鈥檙e happy to have reached a new contract with Anthem, which ensures our patients can continue to receive the high-quality care they need without interruption or uncertainty," Harris-Muller said.
The deal comes more than half a year after Ohio State University's health system and Anthem hammered out a last-minute health insurance contract to keep patients covered at OSU.
Anthem officials say members with any questions should call the number listed on the back of their Anthem ID card.
