Contract termination rescinded; patients will continue to receive in-network care

INDIANAPOLIS – The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. today (Nov. 7) announced it would rescind plans to terminate its contract with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana, thereby ensuring patients will continue to receive in-network benefits.

St. Francis and Anthem officials say they have made progress in negotiating a new multi-year contract and will continue their discussions until an agreement is reached.

An agreement would cover the following SSFHS medical facilities and physicians:

• St. Francis Hospital & Health Center (Indianapolis)
• St. Francis Hospital & Health Center (Beech Grove)
• St. Francis Hospital & Health Center (Mooresville)
• St. Elizabeth Regional Health (Lafayette)
• Home Hospital (Lafayette)
• St. Anthony Medical Center (Crown Point)
• St. Anthony Memorial Health Center (Michigan City)
• St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center (Hammond)
• St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center (Dyer)
• St. Clare Medical Center (Crawfordsville)
• Franciscan Physicians Hospital (Munster)
• More than 300 physicians in the different SSFHS service areas

The affected plans are Anthem Blue Access PPO, Anthem Blue Preferred HMO, Anthem Traditional, Anthem Medicare Advantage PPO, and Anthem Healthy Indiana Plan.

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About Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc.
Headquartered in Mishawaka, Ind., the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services is a network of 13 growing hospital campuses in Indiana and Illinois is one of the largest health-care systems in the state. The system’s health-care ministry in Indiana was established in 1875. More information about SSFHS is at www.ssfhs.org.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is available at www.anthem.com.

Anthem discussions ongoing

As you aware, the St. Francis health system and Anthem have been involved in negotiating a long-term contract. Discussions are ongoing at this time. We hope to update you soon.

St. Francis, Anthem agree to extension; long-term contract possible

The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc. (SSFHS) late last night announced it has agreed to postpone its contract termination with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana until Friday, Nov. 7.

After a weekend of intense discussions, both organizations reported that “significant progress in negotiations had been made and both SSFHS and Anthem are confident that a long-term contract extension will be completed in the next few days.”

The contract was scheduled to terminate midnight, Sunday, Nov. 2.

Both parties indicated optimism that final details of a long-term contract extension would be finalized by Nov. 7.