Anthem to notify members of Parkview contract status

Contract negotiations, which began in February, between Anthem and Parkview Health System -- a network of more than 80 community hospitals and clinics in northern Indiana and northwest Ohio that serves many Purdue employees – are still underway but nearing the end, according to Anthem.

A letter that members will receive from Anthem states that effective July 29, Parkview Health System no longer will be part of Anthem’s health care network. This means that Parkview no longer will be an in-network option for Purdue members.

Purdue employees who visited a Parkview clinic or hospital in the last 12 months will receive this letter from Anthem at their home addresses. Though the letter indicates the decision is final, negotiations continue.

“If this is the final outcome, we of course will be disappointed,” said Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources. “However, Purdue is hopeful that the few weeks of July that remain will allow both Anthem and Parkview to come to an agreement. Purdue does champion high-quality, cost-effective, transparent care for our members, and if Parkview is unable to meet the standards set forth by Anthem for a new contract that would provide that caliber of care, we will understand the outcome.”

If in fact the contract ends, members who are currently under the care of a Parkview provider may have the ability to request a continuation of care through Anthem. Individuals should complete this form and submit the form to Anthem according to instructions provided on the form. Submitting the form does not guarantee continued in-network benefits under Anthem or Purdue.

Members needing to seek other health care options can search for providers through Anthem’s Cost and Care Finder. For more information, visit Purdue’s “Find high quality and affordable doctors” webpage.

The negotiations were spurred by a 2017 RAND study, which analyzed insurance claims data from mid-2013 to mid-2016 and shows unprecedented cost disparity for hospital care in Indiana with particularly high costs from Parkview. Additionally, the Employers’ Forum of Indiana has made available a National Hospital Transparency Report Supplement (May 2019), which provides detailed data from the transparency initiative. Per the supplement, Parkview Health is the second-highest in the state in regard to hospital system relative price rank. The supplement is available for download from the Employers’ Forum of Indiana’s website.

Questions can be directed to Human Resources at 765-494-2222, toll-free at 877-725-0222 or via email at hr@purdue.edu.