Northeast Georgia Health System and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia have extended a new two-year agreement.
The agreement covers the health system's facilities, including all Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group hospitals, urgent care locations, Georgia Heart Institute locations, Laurelwood, long-term care facilities and other outpatient facilities.
The expansion guarantees continued access for Anthem members with employer-based health plans.
“We are pleased with the collaborative nature of the discussions and the willingness of both parties to work together to ensure our patients have certainty about their access to services at NGHS,” said Steve McNeilly, chief executive of population health and vice president of managed care operations for NGHS.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Georgia President Robert Bunch said the agreement will continue to make quality health care accessible to policyholders in Northeast Georgia.
“We value our partnership with NGHS as we work together to address health care affordability and improve the lives and communities for the Georgians we mutually serve,” Bunch said.
The announcement comes ahead of open enrollment, which is significant since UnitedHealthcare policyholders were left in the dark when NGHS and United failed to reach an agreement when their contract expired earlier this year.
United remain off the grid.
“Because of this new agreement, our community can confidently choose Anthem when it goes into open enrollment this fall,” said McNeilly.
Click here for a list of current in-network NGHS insurance providers.
