Anthem, MU Health Care reach deal to bring patients back into network
Matthew Sanders
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and University of Missouri Health Care said Tuesday that they had reached a deal to bring about 90,000 Anthem customers back into the MU Health Care network.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed in the news release announcing it.
“I’m joining the tens of thousands of other people across the state and rejoicing that we’re going to have access to the high quality care that we’ve come to expect and the great value that we have for our health care coverage,” Rep. Gregg Bush (D-Boone County), a nurse and Anthem customer told ABC 17 News. “This is a real weight and a burden that has been lifted from the tens of thousands of families across Missouri.”
The insurer, which covers about 2 million people in Missouri, and MU Health had been at odds since this spring, when their contract expired. Anthem claimed MU Health was asking for too high a reimbursement rate, while MU Health said that Anthem was lowballing rates for medical care and taking too long to pay claims.
A Missouri Senate committee held a hearing June 30 to ask questions of Anthem and MU Health representatives. Anthem offered new terms at the hearing, and Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin wrote on social media last week that a deal was imminent.
“The hearings that were scheduled at the Capitol, I think, was crucial to making sure that everybody was aware of the real significant things that were going on and working together to find a solution,” Bush said. “I don’t know if social media posts really help or not. [But] anything that would encourage these two entities to reach an agreement, I am all for.”
Contract documents are being prepared, the joint MU Health/Anthem news release states. The new contract is expected to be signed in the next two weeks, the release says.
The deal does not include Anthem’s Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans. The agreement includes ACA Marketplace plans.
MU Health says the deal is retroactive to April 1, 2025, when the previous contract expired. Anthem commercially insured patients once again have in-network access to MU Health Care providers and facilities, effective immediately, according to the release.
Bush says the agreement will have a major impact on state employees, as Anthem is the primary health insurance provider for Missouri’s state workforce.
“I had conversations with members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. I had conversations with other state workers, with legislative assistants, and with people that work at the Capitol. Anything that is disruptive to their health care is disruptive to the whole state,” Bush said. “We have to make sure that a disruption like this doesn’t happen again.”
ABC 17 News reached out to Anthem and MU Health Care. MU Health Care declined to comment.
Check back for updates to this developing story.