Mercy forms partnership with Anthem

Last edited 1:45 p.m. July 11, 2017

Mercy is working with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri to develop new policies for its patients.

The companies are scheduled to launch an exclusive provider organization dubbed Anthem Alliance EPO on Jan. 1, 2018. The coverage will be available to employer groups with 51 or more employees in Springfield and St. Louis. Also starting Jan. 1, Anthem will expand its Blue Access Pathway, Pathway X and Medicare Advantage networks in Springfield and Joplin by adding Mercy to its list of in-network providers, according to a news release.

“Close collaboration between the insurance carrier and providers is key to managing cost in today’s health care market,” said Dr. Jay Moore, senior clinical officer of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri, in the release. “By collaborating with Mercy, we can ensure members get the best, fully integrated care possible, while also keeping costs affordable.”

Patients enrolled in the Anthem-Mercy plans will have access locally to Mercy’s children’s, orthopedic and rehabilitation hospitals, as well as its dedicated burn unit, virtual care and digital platform MyMercy. Mercy also works with insurers UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Coventry, Cigna, WellCare, Centene, Aetna, PHCS and Healthlink, said spokeswoman Sonya Kullmann. She believed Anthem previously only worked with CoxHealth locally.

Anthem announced last month it would sell coverage on the health insurance exchange in Missouri next year.

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