Reversal Keeps Patient Insurance Affordable At Des Peres Hospital

Des Peres Hospital reached a multi-year agreement with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri that will allow patients covered by Anthem to continue receiving care without any interruption in their in-network benefits.

Des Peres Hospital announced in December that it would cancel managed care contracts with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri and Healthlink by the first of the year because of failed contract negotiations.

A HealthLink agreement will be retroactive to Jan. 1, which protects patients' in-network benefits, said Simone Valle, a spokesperson for Des Peres Hospital.

Cancellation of the contracts would have meant Anthem and HealthLink members would have had to pay out-of-network rates with higher co-pays when they used the hospital starting Jan. 1.

"Though these negotiations were difficult, our focus throughout remained on our patients and their ability to continue using our hospital for their health care needs," Valle said.

"We remain committed to providing high-quality service to all our patients. We would like to thank the community for their patience and support during this process," Valle said.

There was no apparent public information on the sticking points in the so-called failed version of negotiations.

Des Peres Hospital appointed new CEO John Grah in October.