Anthem’s Davis Center campus sits off Staples Mill Road in Henrico County. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.
A months-long impasse between a local urgent care chain and the state’s largest health insurer has been resolved.
Glen Allen-based Patient First announced Wednesday it has reached an agreement to once again accept new patients insured by Anthem, bringing an end to a dispute over reimbursement rates.
The agreement, which became effective Tuesday, allows new patients insured by Anthem, HealthKeepers and Blue Cross Blue Shield to be covered at Patient First’s 65 locations, which are scattered around the Mid-Atlantic.
Patient First’s location in Carytown. (Photo by Brandy Brubaker)
The disagreement between the two companies reached a boiling point in early February, when Patient First stopped accepting new Anthem policy holders, claiming the insurer wanted to cut reimbursement rates for services provided to patients with Anthem plans.
Anthem said at the time that the Patient First’s actions violated the contract between the two companies.
Patient First announced the resolution in a brief statement Wednesday from spokesman Ian Slinkman.
“Patient First is pleased to announce our Virginia medical centers are once again able to care for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield members,” the prepared statement read. “We reached an agreement with Anthem and, effective immediately, are again accepting new patients insured under all Anthem plans. These plans include HealthKeepers, KeyCare, Medicare Advantage and others, as well as out-of-state BlueCross BlueShield plans. Also, Patient First welcomes back and is accepting Medicaid patients insured under Anthem HealthKeepers Plus.”
Anthem spokesman Scott Golden said the company had no comment beyond the information included in Patient First’s brief statement.
Anthem was previously in a similar a tug-of-war with Bon Secours Virginia Health System over similar rate reduction grievances. That dispute resulted in each side taking shots at the other but was ultimately resolved with a new contract.
Anthem’s Davis Center campus sits off Staples Mill Road in Henrico County. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.
A months-long impasse between a local urgent care chain and the state’s largest health insurer has been resolved.
Glen Allen-based Patient First announced Wednesday it has reached an agreement to once again accept new patients insured by Anthem, bringing an end to a dispute over reimbursement rates.
The agreement, which became effective Tuesday, allows new patients insured by Anthem, HealthKeepers and Blue Cross Blue Shield to be covered at Patient First’s 65 locations, which are scattered around the Mid-Atlantic.
Patient First’s location in Carytown. (Photo by Brandy Brubaker)
The disagreement between the two companies reached a boiling point in early February, when Patient First stopped accepting new Anthem policy holders, claiming the insurer wanted to cut reimbursement rates for services provided to patients with Anthem plans.
Anthem said at the time that the Patient First’s actions violated the contract between the two companies.
Patient First announced the resolution in a brief statement Wednesday from spokesman Ian Slinkman.
“Patient First is pleased to announce our Virginia medical centers are once again able to care for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield members,” the prepared statement read. “We reached an agreement with Anthem and, effective immediately, are again accepting new patients insured under all Anthem plans. These plans include HealthKeepers, KeyCare, Medicare Advantage and others, as well as out-of-state BlueCross BlueShield plans. Also, Patient First welcomes back and is accepting Medicaid patients insured under Anthem HealthKeepers Plus.”
Anthem spokesman Scott Golden said the company had no comment beyond the information included in Patient First’s brief statement.
Anthem was previously in a similar a tug-of-war with Bon Secours Virginia Health System over similar rate reduction grievances. That dispute resulted in each side taking shots at the other but was ultimately resolved with a new contract.