Norton Healthcare, Anthem Agree to New Three-Year Contract
LOUISVILLE, KY.: Norton Healthcare and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky have agreed to a new three-year contract, effective today. The contract restores in-network access to Norton facilities and providers for Anthem policyholders and employer groups. The previous contract expired June 30, 2009. The new agreement covers Norton Healthcare’s five hospitals and related services, including:
Norton’s 14 outpatient centers and more than 300 employed primary-care and
specialty-care physicians located throughout Metro Louisville and Southern Indiana.
Anthem members enrolled in Blue Access/Access (PPO), Blue Preferred/Preferred (HMO), Blue Traditional/Traditional, Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO, Medicare Select and Kentucky Access may again receive covered services at Norton facilities and from Norton-employed physicians, diagnostic centers and immediate care facilities with the highest level of benefits and lowest outof- pocket cost.
“We recognize how difficult the out-of-network situation has been for our Anthem patients, physicians, employers, insurance brokers and others directly affected,” said Stephen A. Williams, president & CEO, Norton Healthcare. “But this new three-year agreement allows us to achieve our not-for-profit mission of providing all of our patients with timely, in-network access to our comprehensive range of adult and pediatric health care services. We are very pleased with what we consider to be a fair agreement.”
“Over the past several weeks, we have had several meetings involving serious and intense negotiations, and I am satisfied that we have successfully resolved this matter,” said Deb Moessner, president & general manager, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky. “I strongly believe that we have ultimately reached a fair agreement that meets the need of our community and our members. I am very pleased with the outcome.”
Per the contract, specific details will not be disclosed.
# # #
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross 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 Kentucky is available at www.anthem.com.
