COLUMBIA — Negotiating teams with MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield continued to work on a new contract. The health care provider and insurance company failed to reach an agreement before an April 1, 2025 deadline to keep Anthem within MU Health Care’s insurance network. More than 90,000 patients remained out of network.
Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield officials insisted MU Health Care negotiators asked for a rate increase of 39% over the next 3 years. MU Health Care officials said that was not true.
MU Health Care Chief Operating Officer Tonya Johnson said a 39% rate increase was their first offer. That rate would be 4 times the rate of inflation. Johnson said there was a new lower rate for Anthem on the bargaining table.
Johnson said, “We have come down considerably from that proposal. We are actually at single digits annually that we are requesting at this point in time. The fact that 39% keeps being thrown around, that is absolutely not accurate information.”
Anthem representatives insisted MU Health Care was still asking for a 39% rate increase during negotiations. MU Health Care insisted Anthem was offering a 1% to 2% rate increase. MU Health Care officials said that low offer would not cover their costs. Anthem officials said their MU Health Care offer was consistent with other offers accepted by other Missouri health care systems.
The network change did not impact emergency room care or the Mizzou Pharmacy. If you have any questions, you can call MU Health Care at 573-650-5409.