CommonSpirit Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Colorado have negotiated a new contract. On Wednesday, CommonSpirit Health is no longer in network.
CommonSpirit Health operates 162 hospitals and more than 2,250 care sites across 24 states. In Longmont this includes Longmont United Hospital and a number of physician offices.
The split impacts more than 40,000 Coloradans. In some parts of the state, CommonSpirit providers are the only option for healthcare.
Negotiations lasted months. CommonSpirit claimed that Anthem “refused to acknowledge soaring inflation and offered reimbursement rates that do not keep up with the cost of care,” according to a news release from CommonSpirit.
Anthem state negotiations failed because “CommonSpirit Health has become one of the more expensive health systems in Colorado.CommonSpirit’s reimbursement rates are already some of the highest among all health systems in Colorado. ” its website stated.
A temporary extension was offered during negotiations but was denied by Anthem, the CommonSpirit news release stated. The two entities continue to negotiate, however, their contract ended on Wednesday.
“We urge Anthem and CommonSpirit to remain at the negotiating table and to reach a deal to bring CommonSpirit back in-network for consumers enrolled in Anthem health plans. Unfortunately, Coloradans are the ones caught in the middle when large health systems and large insurers fail to reach an agreement,” said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway.
Conway also urges the two companies to remember “increased health care costs are ultimately borne by those same consumers in increased premiums.”
If patients are undergoing an active course of treatment such as chemotherapy, treatment for cardiovascular conditions or post-surgical care, they can continue seeing their current physician while they transition to new providers, according to a fact sheet provided by the state of Colorado.
The impacted facilities include:
Hospitals; Emergency and Urgent Care Centers
St. Anthony Hospital Central
St. Anthony Hospital North
Longmont United Hospital
Penrose Hospital
St. Francis Medical Center
St. Mary Corwin Medical Center
St. Thomas More Hospital
Mercy Regional Medical Center
Ortho Colorado Hospital
St Anthony Summit Medical Center
Breckenridge Emergency and Urgent Care Center - Breckenridge
Copper Emergency and Urgent Care Center - Frisco
Keystone Emergency and Urgent Care Center -Dillon
CommonSpirit Health Emergent and Urgent Care Center – Arvada
CommonSpirit Health Emergent and Urgent Care Center – Golden
CommonSpirit Health Emergent and Urgent Care Center – Indian Peak
CommonSpirit Health Emergent and Urgent Care Center – Highlands Ranch
CommonSpirit Health Emergent and Urgent Care Center – Lakewood
84th Ave Neighborhood Emergency Center – St Anthony North ER
St. Elizabeth Hospital in Fort Morgan will remain in-network through July 11, 2024
Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Arkansas Valley Surgery Center
Endoscopy Centers of Colorado Springs, LLC – 2 Centers
Peak One Surgery in Frisco will remain in-network through July 25, 2024
Home Health and Hospice
St. Mary-Corwin Home Health – Pueblo
CommonSpirit Home Health Penrose – Colorado Springs
Mercy Home Care Pagosa Springs – Pagosa Springs
Mercy Home Health Service – Durango
St. Anthony Hospice – Englewood
Hospice of Mercy Durango – Durango
Hospice of Mercy – Pagosa Springs
Freestanding Radiology Centers
Health Images at Diamond Hill
Health Images at Church Ranch
Health Images at South Potomac
Health Images at Cherry Hills
Health Images at South Park
Health Images at Cherry Creek
Health Images at Boulder
Health Images at Southlands
Women's Imaging Harvard Park
Health Images at North Denver
Health Images at Ft. Collins
Southwest Spine Services
Health Images at Castle Rock
Three Springs Imaging, LLC
Health Images at Longmont
Health Images at Denver West
Health Images at Northfield
Women's Imaging Southlands
Health Images at South Denver
Women's Imaging at Boulder
Health Images Denver Tech Center
Women's Imaging Parker
Women's Imaging Longmont
Health Images at West Littleton
Women's Imaging Lakewood
Health Images Greeley
Professional Groups
Catholic Health Initiatives
Total HealthCare
Geriatric Medicine Associates, PC (Medicare Advantage Only)
CommonSpirit Colorado Sport and Spine Centers
Summit Orthopedics
