CINCINNATI (March 22, 2023) – The Christ Hospital Health Network continues to be in contract renewal negotiations with a simple agenda: to obtain a fair market rate of reimbursement from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem/BCBS) for services provided to its members. The health network is committed to doing everything it takes to provide this continued access—but says its requests continue to be rejected at the negotiating table.
Current reimbursement offers from Anthem/BCBS are inadequate, barely exceeding half the inflation rate.
The health network’s commitment to meeting the needs of the greater Cincinnati community was never more evident than in the past three years, during a global pandemic. Working on the front lines in an effort to keep the community safe, it suffered significant financial losses—while Anthem/BCBS, a for-profit publicly traded corporation, reported a 9-billion-dollar profit and enacted a membership premium increase of more than 14%.
Independent research conducted by the RAND Corporation confirms that the existing reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient services at The Christ Hospital Health Network consistently fall in the bottom third when compared with other healthcare providers in the region. All of this was done while maintaining a market-leading position as the #1 adult hospital in the region, as recognized by both U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek.
“Anthem/BCBS fails to appreciate or understand the healthcare industry and the realities of the post-COVID environment,” said Ted Scherpenberg, VP and Chief Financial Officer at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “They reject the research, refuse reasonable options, seem unconcerned with the effects on our patients and the community—so we have to wonder, why?”
Recent Anthem/BCBC communications to its members, and content on its microsite, actively work to ostracize The Christ Hospital Health Network, and by doing so, strive to disenfranchise one of the greatest healthcare assets in the region.
Dean Kereiakes, MD, President of The Heart and Vascular Institute, and Leanne Olshavsky, MD, Medical Director of the Women’s Health Service Line, both agree that the Anthem/BCBS actions almost certainly speak to a concerted effort to eliminate healthcare options for patients.
“The fact that Anthem refuses to negotiate fairly with us makes it appear they are attempting to create a situation in which our community has less choice in who their providers are—which will translate to an increase in cost for everyone,” said Dr. Kereiakes.
Patients have voiced frustrations and concerns to our providers about the negotiations.
“I am saddened by how much anxiety and fear these negotiations are causing our patients,” said Debbie Hayes, President and CEO. “Our doctors and staff hear every day from patients who are very disappointed that Anthem/BCBS appears so completely unwilling to find a reasonable solution. Every day, we reassure our patients that we will continue to negotiate in good faith and encourage Anthem/BCBC to do what is right for this community by not forcing the limitation of healthcare options for those who live in our region.”
In order to help our patients as much as possible, and to prepare for the potential that we might not be able to reach an agreement, we’ve been working with patients to complete their continuity of care forms. If patients have any questions, they can contact their providers who will assist them with scheduling of services.
We will continue to work hard to come to agreement with Anthem prior to the April 1 deadline but are unable to accept the rates that are currently being offered.
To learn more about how to advocate to keep healthcare options in our region, click here.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 6,500 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2023 and the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above of performance in patient experience.