Bon Secours reaches deal with Anthem

Bon Secours Virginia Health System will remain in Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s networks as a participating provider system, the two organizations announced Monday.

The health system and the health insurer have been squabbling over terms of a new contract for months. The current contracts expires in November.

“Anthem and Bon Secours have enjoyed a long relationship, and we are pleased that we will continue that relationship into the future,” C. Burke King, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, said in a statement.

“Bon Secours Virginia looks forward to a strong and continued partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” Peter J. Bernard, CEO, Bon Secours Virginia Health System, said in a statement.

The agreement establishes a contractual framework for a continued relationship between the two companies, they said.

During negotiations, Bon Secours said Anthem wanted to reduce  reimbursement rates for patients treated by the health system.

Anthem had said that its proposal was in line with its contracts with other health systems.

The deal announced Monday includes all Bon Secours facilities, physicians, and allied and ancillary providers in Richmond and Hampton Roads. No other details were disclosed.

Anthem is the largest health insurer in Virginia, with 3 million members.. Its service area includes  all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123.
                                         
Bon Secours Virginia is a nonprofit, faith-based health system with 15,000 employees including nearly 650 physicians. It operates four hospitals in the Richmond area and three in Hampton Roads and is affiliated with Rappahannock General Hospital in the Northern Neck.