Anthem Blue Cross Refuses to Care for Our Community
Salinas Valley Health has been actively negotiating with Anthem Blue Cross for several months to secure a new contract that allows us to continue providing in-network care to Anthem members. Despite our efforts to negotiate in good faith, and multiple requests to extend our contract through the end of the year to avoid disruption for our patients, as of August 1, 2023, Salinas Valley Health has been excluded from Anthem’s network. Salinas Valley Health has successfully negotiated contracts with all major health plans (e.g. Blue Shield, United, Aetna, Cigna). Those plans are both intact and stable.
Anthem Blue Cross neglecting its responsibility
The following articles underscore the ongoing pattern of Anthem Blue Cross unfairly driving up costs for patients and failing to pay claims in full or in a timely manner.
- The California Medical Association (CMA) files complaint about Anthem’s unlawful denial of claims for emergency services
- Major insurers running billions of dollars behind on payments to hospitals and doctors
- California officials hit Anthem Blue Cross with $1M fine over 2 legal violations
- Report targets Anthem for $300 million in unpaid claims, weekslong delays
- Health care providers say Anthem billing problems are widespread
- State hits Anthem with whopping fine for insurance violations
- How Anthem Gets Away With Nonpayment and Denials
- Insurer under fire for millions in unpaid claims
- Anthem providers say payments still being delayed, denied
- People’s Action on Elevance Health Stealings Report: New Year, Same Story
Salinas Valley Health continues to care for our community
Salinas Valley Health is committed to a resolution that benefits patients, the community and long-term sustainable success for the local public district healthcare system. It has been ten years since Salinas Valley Health has seen any change in its contract with Anthem, making it difficult to sustain inflationary pressures. Should Anthem, continue to decline each and every proposal and extension provided to them, Salinas Valley Health will treat patients as if they are in-network. In this worst case, out-of-network situation, nothing changes for the patient on August 1. It is not a long-term solution but it would allow time for patients and Salinas Valley Health to explore options.
Salinas Valley Health exists to help our community rise through good health, serving individuals and families throughout the Central Coast region. Salinas Valley Health employs more than 2,000 people and consists of a network of resources and collaborations which include an acute care medical center licensed for 263 beds; primary, specialty, and urgent care clinics; a mobile clinic; and community-based health and wellness programs such as Blue Zones Project Monterey County and health education outreach.
We’re here to help our community, whenever and wherever you need us
If you have questions or concerns about how our negotiation may impact your in-network access to care at our medical center, clinics, urgent care centers, and other facilities, please visit www.YouDeserveCoverage.com or call our patient support line at 831-202-6870.
Click here to learn how Anthem Blue Cross is refusing to care for our community and neglecting their responsibility
