Anthem-MaineHealth exchange plan wins conditional approval
Maine’s Bureau of Insurance approved Thursday the partnership of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield with MaineHealth to provide health insurance on the state’s new health exchange being created under the Affordable Care Act.
The bureau approved the plan with some conditions, including a proviso that Anthem contract with additional specialists when necessary to provide reasonable access to health services. Central Maine HealthCare, which is not included in the plan, reiterated its objections to what it characterizes as a “backroom deal” that excludes providers in central and western Maine and could force some patients in the CMHC network to change doctors.
According to the Portland Press Herald, Anthem-MaineHealth’s network would include 32 of the state's 38 hospitals, and would exclude the three hospitals owned by Central Maine Healthcare of Lewiston, as well as Parkview Adventist in Brunswick, York Hospital in York and Mercy Hospital in Portland.
The bureau still must address the issues of product pricing and whether Anthem would move its current customer base into the proposed network created with its partnership with MaineHealth, which includes Maine Medical Center in Portland, the newspaper reported.
Maine Community Health Options, the other insurer hoping to offer policies through Maine's health insurance exchange next year, has contracted with a group of central Maine physicians for its plan.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments