Mercy, one of the largest health systems in Missouri, is threatening to stop accepting Anthem insurance unless an agreement on how much the insurer reimburses hospitals for care is reached by the end of the year.
Chesterfield-based Mercy, which operates dozens of hospitals and hundreds of other outpatient locations in the region, has announced it intends to move out of the insurer’s network in January if Anthem does not agree to a new contract. The contract sets the amount of money the insurer pays hospitals for surgeries, checkups and the thousands of other services the health system provides.
Anthem officials claim Mercy is asking the insurer to pay too much money to cover procedures. Mercy officials said Anthem is putting too many administrative barriers in its contract, such as requiring providers to obtain the insurer’s approval before doctors perform a procedure, and that makes it more difficult to treat patients…