Important Updates About Our Discussions with Anthem in Maine
April 28, 2023
Over the next few days, you may be hearing about our current discussions with Anthem in Maine, potentially impacting patients of St. Joseph Healthcare in Bangor and St. Mary’s Health System in Lewiston.
I want you to know that we are committed to providing you and our patients with timely and accurate information on this situation. Here are some key facts:
- We have been negotiating a new contract with Anthem for several months because our current agreement expires on July 1, 2023.
- We are seeking market rates and fair contract terms for Anthem’s administration of their contract.
- Throughout the negotiations, we have been clear that we want to structure an agreement that provides fair reimbursement for our providers and hospitals and continues to offer our patients access to the medical services they need at an affordable rate.
To date, Anthem has been unwilling to meaningfully address these issues. At the same time:
- Anthem raised their rates to their membership in Maine by 10-12% in 2022, even higher for smaller employer groups.
- Anthem’s parent company, Elevance, continues to post record profits ($2B in Q1 of 2023) while hospitals and providers have struggled with challenges associated with the COVID pandemic, supply chain issues, workforce shortages and the impact of inflation.
- The administrative burden of working with Anthem far exceeds what we experience with other insurance providers.
St. Joseph Healthcare in Bangor and St. Mary’s Health System in Lewiston are directly impacted by these actions. These facilities and their providers have devoted longstanding service and commitment to their communities, and our intent is to do everything possible to be sure this continues for future generations. Please know that we will continue to press for meaningful discussions with Anthem and will provide regular updates as these negotiations move forward.
We will keep you informed throughout the process. We are committed to providing you with timely and accurate information on this situation. Updates can be found by visiting our websites:
Lewiston: www.stmarysmaine.com/anthem
Bangor: www.stjosephbangor.org/anthem
Steve Grubbs
President/CEO
Covenant Health