In this spirit, we have been diligently working since December 2023 to secure a new, responsible contract with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado that would go into effect when our current agreements begin to expire on May 1, 2024. Our ongoing, good-faith negotiations aim to safeguard patient care and protect their choice of doctors by keeping our healthcare services in-network for Anthem members.
If no agreement is reached before our current agreements begin to expire on May 1, 2024, Anthem will classify CommonSpirit as out-of-network in Colorado, leading to increasing costs for members receiving nonemergency services from CommonSpirit physicians and hospitals*. Additionally, some patients may be forced to travel great distances to receive care – especially specialized care – and our ability to treat underserved or underinsured patients in low-income communities will be jeopardized.
If Anthem and CommonSpirit are unable to reach new agreements before May 1, 2024, patients who are currently in active treatment or have appointments or procedures scheduled after that date may qualify for protected in-network access through Continuity of Care benefits from Anthem. Scroll down to read more about Continuity of Care and how to apply.
We deeply value our patients and are doing everything we can to ensure we remain in-network with Anthem. We need a contract that enables us to keep building more resilient communities, advocate for the poor and vulnerable, and innovate how and where health can happen—both inside our hospitals and in our communities.
*St. Elizabeth Hospital in Fort Morgan is an exception to the termination with Anthem on May 1, 2024. Only the hospital would remain in network until at least July 11, 2024, due to a separate contractual agreement. Peak One Surgery Center in Frisco also has a separate contract with Anthem and will remain in network for patients with Anthem insurance.
Take action
You can take action today to protect your healthcare access and choice:
- Call Anthem at the number on the back of your insurance card and urge Anthem to work with CommonSpirit doctors and nurses on a new agreement.
- If you have insurance through your employer, talk to your human resources or benefits representative and urge them to contact Anthem. You may also want to ask them about alternate or secondary coverage options that will protect your in-network access to CommonSpirit hospitals, clinics, physicians and providers.
- If you have additional questions about our efforts to remain in-network with Anthem that are not answered below, you may call 877-213-7081 to speak with a member of our team. Representatives are available 9am-9pm MT weekdays and 9am-5pm MT on weekends.
Reinvesting in our communities
As a not-for-profit health system, we improve community health by reinvesting resources within the communities we serve. We collaborate with local initiatives, community nonprofits, and healthcare partners to create reliable and versatile community resources. Our investments enable access to specialized services and compassionate care, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
We reinvest every dollar we earn back into our communities and Colorado has been a significant recipient of these funds over the past decade. For example, in the past year in Colorado, CommonSpirit Health invested more than $45 million in financial assistance. More than two out of every three patients we treat do not have commercial insurance.
Research is fundamental to our commitment to excellence in patient care. By prioritizing clinical excellence and investing in technologies, we benefit both patients and clinicians – patients experience improved health outcomes, while clinicians can advance scientific knowledge and best practices. Our goal is to elevate the well-being of the communities we serve through efficient practices and expanded specialty services.
If Anthem and CommonSpirit are unable to reach an agreement before May 1, 2024, patients who are currently in active treatment or have appointments or procedures scheduled after that date may qualify for protected in-network access through Continuity of Care benefits.
Continuity of Care is intended to protect patients from having to change providers or having care delayed or disrupted if an agreement between a health plan and provider is terminated. This benefit is a state law, and Anthem, like all licensed health plans, must abide by the requirements.
Health care conditions that may be covered by Continuity of Care include:
- Prenatal/obstetrical care
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Physical/occupational/speech therapy
- Elective surgery
- Ongoing treatment for an acute inpatient stay
- Discharge planning after an acute inpatient stay, even if your previous health insurance carrier is still following your care
- Dialysis
- Home health care
- Hospice care
- Home IV therapy
- Inpatient rehabilitation
- Durable medical equipment
- Supplies
You may save and fill out the Continuity of Care Request Form here.
Ask your doctor’s office if you need assistance with filling out the Continuity of Care form. For questions about Continuity of Care eligibility, benefits, and access to the form, please call Anthem using the number on the back of your insurance card.
Unless we mutually agree with Anthem to new contracts, thousands of patients with Anthem insurance will no longer have in-network access to CommonSpirit’s hospitals, clinics, physicians & advance practice providers, and services in Colorado. This would significantly reduce access to care and choice for patients with Anthem insurance.
We continue to negotiate with Anthem in good faith with the hope of reaching a new agreement before our current agreements begin to expire on May 1, 2024. If Anthem is unwilling to agree to new contracts with CommonSpirit, 11 of our Colorado hospitals, as well as our clinics, physicians and advance practice providers in Colorado would no longer be in-network with Anthem beginning May 1.
Yes, patients will still be able to access care from our hospitals, clinics, physicians and providers. However, if no agreement is reached, Anthem will classify CommonSpirit as out-of-network in Colorado, leading to increasing costs for members receiving nonemergency services from CommonSpirit physicians and hospitals.
Additionally, some patients may be forced to travel great distances to receive care – especially specialized care – and our ability to treat underserved or underinsured patients in low-income communities will be jeopardized.
Without a new contract, 11 of CommonSpirit’s Colorado hospitals, as well as dozens of clinics and practices, and hundreds of physicians and advanced practice providers will no longer be in network for Anthem consumers as of May 1, 2024.
These include:
- Longmont United Hospital
- Mercy Hospital (Durango)
- OrthoColorado Hospital (Lakewood)
- Penrose Hospital (Colorado Springs)
- St. Francis Hospital (Colorado Springs)
- St. Francis-Interquest Hospital (Colorado Springs)
- St. Anthony Hospital (Lakewood)
- St. Anthony North Hospital (Westminster)
- St. Anthony Summit Hospital (Frisco)
- St. Mary-Corwin Hospital (Pueblo)
- St. Thomas More Hospital (Cañon City)
St. Elizabeth Hospital in Fort Morgan is an exception to the termination with Anthem on May 1, 2024. Only the hospital would remain in network until at least July 11, 2024 due to a separate contractual agreement.
Peak One Surgery Center in Frisco also has a separate contract with Anthem and will remain in network for patients with Anthem insurance.
All CommonSpirit physicians, APPs, and other locations in Colorado such as urgent care centers – as well as our other hospitals in Colorado – would be out of network for patients with Anthem insurance beginning May 1, 2024.
Our ongoing, good-faith negotiations have aimed to safeguard patient care and protect their choice of doctors by keeping our healthcare services in-network for Anthem members.
Despite historic inflation, Anthem’s proposals have failed to offer terms that fairly reimburse for services provided to its members, and equitably cover the burden to get reimbursed timely and accurately. Our rates support services provided by hundreds of our physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses, as well as our hospitals and dozens of clinics and practices throughout Colorado.
We need Anthem to acknowledge what is at stake for patients and agree to contract terms that will allow us to retain healthcare professionals, ensure access to providers and continuity of care, sustain and introduce new services to the community, invest in technology, and maintain our premier facilities throughout the state.
We are doing everything we can to protect patient access to the doctors, nurses and services they know and trust. Our goal is to reach a new agreement and to avoid any disruptions for patients. We will continue working with Anthem in good faith to reach a new agreement that protects patients’ access to essential services.
If Anthem and CommonSpirit are unable to reach an agreement before May 1, 2024, patients who are currently in active treatment or have appointments or procedures scheduled after that date may qualify for protected in-network access through Continuity of Care benefits.
Continuity of Care is intended to protect patients from having to change providers or having care delayed or disrupted if an agreement between a health plan and provider is terminated. This benefit is a state law, and Anthem, like all licensed health plans, must abide by the requirements. provider is terminated. This benefit is a state law, and Anthem, like all licensed health plans, must abide by the requirements.
Health care conditions that may be covered by Continuity of Care include:
- Prenatal/obstetrical care
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Physical/occupational/speech therapy
- Elective surgery
- Ongoing treatment for an acute inpatient stay
- Discharge planning after an acute inpatient stay, even if your previous health insurance carrier is still following your care
- Dialysis
- Home health care
- Hospice care
- Home IV therapy
- Inpatient rehabilitation
- Durable medical equipment
- Supplies
You may save and fill out the Continuity of Care Request Form here.
Ask your doctor’s office if you need assistance with filling out the Continuity of Care form. For questions about Continuity of Care eligibility, benefits, and access to the form, please call Anthem using the number on the back of your insurance card.
If a traditional Medicare patient has an Anthem plan as secondary coverage, benefits should be verified prior to service on/after May 1, 2024 as we expect Anthem will consider us out of network, resulting in lower or no benefit coverage and higher patient cost share. For patients with Anthem Medicare plans as their primary insurance, CommonSpirit would be out of network if a new agreement is not reached before May 1, 2024. However, for patients with traditional Medicare coverage as their primary insurance, patients can see any licensed Medicare provider, including CommonSpirit providers.
Patients can take action today to protect their health care access and choice:
- Call Anthem at the number on the back of your insurance card and urge Anthem to work with CommonSpirit doctors and nurses on a new agreement.
- If you have insurance through your employer, talk to your human resources or benefits representative and urge them to contact Anthem. You may also want to ask them about alternate or secondary coverage options that will protect your in-network access to CommonSpirit hospitals, clinics, physicians and providers.
- If you have additional questions about our efforts to remain in-network with Anthem that are not answered here, you may call 877-213-7081 to speak with a member of our team. Representatives are available 9am-9pm MT weekdays and 9am-5pm MT on weekends.
