Thousands of patients may have to switch to new health care providers, due to a contract dispute between St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. St.
Joseph Hospital and Anthem, the state’s largest insurer, are at odds over how much the hospital should be paid for its services. St. Joseph also alleges Anthem is regularly denying claims that should be covered, echoing complaints other hospitals have made about the company in recent years.
Despite negotiating for more than a year, St. Joseph and Anthem failed to reach an agreement by Jan. 1 – meaning the hospital is no longer in-network.
The hospital said this could affect about 7,000 patients who rely on Anthem for coverage. “Despite nearly 15 months of good-faith negotiations, we have been unable to reach an agreement with Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Hampshire that reflects the exceptional care and services delivered by St. Joseph Hospital,” hospital spokesperson Tim McMahon said in a prepared statement.
The change will not affect patients immediately, as state law requires Anthem to continue paying in-network rates until March 1. Anthem says its members can continue seeking care as normal at St. Joseph Hospital until that time.
Both parties say negotiations are still ongoing, and they hope to reach an agreement before March. The change will not impact people with Anthem Medicare Advantage plans. Emergency care will also remain in-network.
In a statement Thursday, New Hampshire Insuran.
