OhioHealth is warning Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield patients that they may not be covered for OhioHealth services in a few weeks.
The health care provider, which runs Riverside Methodist Hospital and Grant Medical Center among other medical facilities, alerted patients that its contract with Anthem will expire July 31.
“If you are an Anthem member and Anthem is no longer in network with OhioHealth, effective August 1, your coverage will not include elective health services at OhioHealth,” OhioHealth told patients.
OhioHealth and Anthem said they are actively working toward a renewal. Representatives of both sides said they are optimistic a deal will be reached.
We “are confident we will reach a new agreement before our current contract ends on July 31,” reported Anthem on a webpage devoted to the issue.
OhioHealth spokesman Colin Yoder did not say how many OhioHealth patients are covered by Anthem but did say all Anthem policies are impacted including Anthem Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans.
According to an OhioHealth online description of the dispute, OhioHealth claims Anthem is in breach of its contract with the health care provider.
“They are not working with us to resolve over $6 million of claims that are over 60 days old,” OhioHealth claims. “Anthem continues to deny claims and authorize services that ultimately block care for our patients. These delays can lead to real problems for patients who need timely care and treatment.”
Anthem said it is negotiating to keep “healthcare affordable in central Ohio.”
The contract dispute follows a similar one late last year between Ohio State University and Anthem. That contract, which covered more than 110,000 people, was resolved at the last minute.
Real estate and Development Reporter Jim Weiker can be reached at jweiker@dispatch.com and at 614-284-3697. Follow him @JimWeiker
(This story was updated with comments from Anthem and to add a photo gallery.)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OhioHealth patients covered by Anthem could lose coverage on Aug. 1
Reporting by Jim Weiker, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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