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Protecting Access to Local Health Care

Our Work with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

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University of Missouri Health Care has been working in good faith with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem) to renew our contract and remain a participating provider in Anthem's provider and hospital networks. Thus far, the negotiations have not been productive, as Anthem has not demonstrated the sense of urgency needed to resolve the underlying issues impacting our patients, clinicians and health system.

Effective April 1, 2025, MU Health Care will no longer be in network with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans. To learn more, visit muhealth.org/anthemMA.

We remain in negotiations with Anthem for their commercial contracts, which include Anthem and other Blue Cross Blue Shield plans that patients get through their employer, in addition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and HealthLink plans. If our commercial contracts expire before an agreement is reached, MU Health Care's services, physicians, and facilities will be out of Anthem's network, starting on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

This change will not impact Mizzou Pharmacy retail services or patients with Healthy Blue Medicaid and University of Missouri Student Advantage plans.

 

A network change could impact your ability to continue receiving convenient, local care from the MU Health Care providers you trust. To find out if you receive health insurance under Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, check the insurance provider’s name on your health insurance card, review your employee benefits or ask your employer’s human resources department.

What You Need to Know

  • Certain health conditions may qualify for continuity of care benefits, which would allow you to receive your care at in-network rates for a period of up to 90 days or completion of a course of treatment. While Anthem makes the final determination about eligibility, we're here if you have questions.
  • Emergency care is always covered, regardless of our network status with Anthem. Your health plan is legally required to provide coverage for emergency services at in-network rates.

What You Can Do Today

  • Keep all scheduled appointments and procedures with MU Health Care, and avoid delaying routine health screenings, procedures and important tests.
  • If you receive your Anthem insurance through your employer, tell your Human Resources or Benefits Department that you want to keep access to MU Health Care’s providers and services.
  • Call Anthem at the number on the back of your insurance card and let them know you want to keep access to the MU Health Care providers and services you trust.

MU Health Care in Missouri Communities

We are a mission-driven system.

MU Health Care is the only academic health system, Level 1 Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital in central Missouri. Our mission as a public institution and one of two tier-one safety net hospitals is unique and vital to the health of Missourians and communities across the state. As a non-profit health system, our revenue is always reinvested into patient care to protect central Missouri patients’ ability to receive care close to home and keep highly specialized services local for all, including children.

To continue providing the specialized care our communities rely on, we must advocate for more sustainable and fair reimbursement rates. These rates enable us to invest in the latest technologies, expand our facilities, and ensure our dedicated healthcare professionals have the tools and resources necessary to deliver the best care possible.

We are dedicated to keeping care close to home and protecting rural health care by:

  • Integrating with Capital Region Medical Center at a significant expense to ensure the stability of health care in the Jefferson City region.
  • Investing more than $250 million to hire physicians and staff and add needed facilities and services across the communities of Ashland, Boonville, Fulton and Mexico, three of which experienced rural hospital closures.
  • Staffing community hospital Emergency Rooms at Hermann Area District Hospital and Moberly Regional Medical Center.
  • Strategically placing medical aircraft in Kirksville, Moberly, Osage Beach and Sedalia to ensure rapid access to MU Health Care’s Level 1 Trauma, STEMI and Stroke Centers and six specialized intensive care units in Columbia, Mo.
  • Establishing a strategic collaboration with Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville and Moberly Regional Medical Center to ensure access to local care for years to come. 
  • Investing $232 million in the children of Missouri, by building a new Children’s Hospital to keep care local for central Missouri parents and their children.
  • Providing $204 million in community benefit, inclusive of charity care and uncompensated care for patients unable to pay for necessary services and community programs, totaling $173 million by MU Health Care and $31 million by Capital Region Medical Center in fiscal year 2022.

Questions?

For any other questions, call our dedicated community information line at 573-650-5409, available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST.