Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Hartford Healthcare Corporation announced today they have reached a long-term agreement on the continuation of their participating contracts for Hartford Hospital and Windham Community Memorial Hospital. As a result, the hospitals will continue as participating hospitals in Anthem's networks without interruption. Covered services provided by the hospitals to Anthem members will continue on an in-network basis.
Hartford Healthcare and Anthem have been negotiating a new contract that covers the cost of providing care to Anthem members for several months. The details of the new contract, effective November 1, 2010, were not released.
"We are pleased to have reached agreements with Hartford and Windham hospitals that allow Anthem and the hospitals to continue our valuable relationship," said David R. Fusco, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "We know that our members rely on us to balance both access to health care services and costs. This long-term arrangement will continue to provide our members with uninterrupted access to the high quality care at Hartford and Windham hospitals at a market competitive cost."
"We believe the new contract is fair, and recognizes and reflects each organization's commitment to this community, the patients we are both privileged to serve, and our collective commitment to quality-driven, efficient and cost-effective care," said Elliot Joseph, president and CEO, Hartford Healthcare Corporation. "The agreements we have forged strengthen our mission to provide the advanced technology, top-level staff and comprehensive services that patients and physicians have come to expect when choosing Hartford and Windham hospitals."
As part of the agreement, Hartford and Windham will continue to participate in Anthem's Quality-In-Sights®: Hospital Incentive Program, a program designed to measure health care quality and to improve patient safety.
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