Anthem Blue Cross/UCLA Health System Contract Negotiations
UPDATE: March 4, 2024:
We are pleased to announce UCLA Health and Anthem Blue Cross have reached a tentative agreement that will avoid termination of UCLA Health’s contract as an Anthem Blue Cross network provider. While the two sides finalize the renewal contract, the current contract has been extended until April 15, 2024. The extension of the original December 31, 2023 contract expiration date allows current UCLA Health patients to continue using Anthem Blue Cross network benefits for services provided by the UCLA Health system.
January 9, 2024:
We have been advised by Anthem Blue Cross, the Health Plan’s medical benefit manager, that it is terminating its network contract with UC Health, which includes the UCLA Health system.
While the termination has not yet taken effect and negotiations are still ongoing, if the two parties are unable to reach an agreement by February 29, 2024, UCLA Health will no longer be considered part of the Anthem Blue Cross network.
In the event of contract termination, there are two important things you should be aware of:
First, participants who are pregnant, currently undergoing a course of treatment, or have a current authorization for health care services with the UCLA Health system may be eligible for transition assistance to ensure continuity of care by contacting the Health Plan’s Participant Services Department.
Second, if the contract negotiations between Anthem and UCLA are not successful and the termination goes into effect on March 1, all medical services at a UCLA Health facility will be considered out-of-network. For out-of-network claims, the Health Plan benefits apply only to covered expenses up to the maximum allowable charge for the service provided, except with respect to emergency services, non-emergency services received from a non-network provider at certain network facilities, and air ambulance services furnished by non-network providers.
The Health Plan will continue to closely monitor this situation and keep you informed of changes via this website, letter correspondence and/or email.