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.
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