Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin hopes to get answers about why Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and MU Health Care have been unable to reach a new agreement on in-network coverage. She’s scheduled a State Senate hearing on the issue in Jefferson City at the end of this month.
As of April 1st, around 90,000 patients enrolled with Anthem went out of network with MU Health Care providers after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.
O’Laughlin told Missourinet she is working with Sen. Sandy Crawford who chairs the Insurance Committee to come up with questions to ask to try to get to the bottom of where negotiations are.
O’Laughlin said it doesn’t seem like the negotiations are moving forward at all.
“We all have to face increasing costs, and we all as a provider of any kind of service also have to mitigate cost increases, so you know, it’s on both sides to try to come to an agreement,” said O’Laughlin.
“I cannot imagine them turning down our request to be there, and I guess if it really became a serious matter, you know, as the President of the Senate I have subpoena power.”
O’Laughlin said her concern is for the patients.
“When people lose access to their specialty doctors, which has happened now, it’s not just an inconvenience, you know, it’s a disruption in their care and can delay diagnosis,” said O’Laughlin.
“It can delay treatment, um you know, basically for some people puts their lives at risk, and so for me it’s a very serious concern.”
The hearing is scheduled for June 30 at 1 p.m. in the Senate Lounge at the Missouri Capitol.
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