MU Health Care Secures Contract with UnitedHealthcare Amid Ongoing Negotiations with Anthem
COLUMBIA, MO — March 26, 2025 — University of Missouri Health Care (MU Health Care) announced a significant development in its insurance negotiations today, reaching a contract extension with UnitedHealthcare. This agreement ensures that UnitedHealthcare members will continue to have access to MU Health Care’s extensive roster of providers and facilities for the foreseeable future.
Continued Negotiations with Anthem
While MU Health Care celebrates this milestone with UnitedHealthcare, discussions with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield remain complicated and unresolved. MU Health Care officials indicated that they will be engaging in further negotiations with Anthem representatives in the coming days, specifically on Thursday and Friday. However, as the deadline approaches on Tuesday, the outlook for reaching an agreement with Anthem appears uncertain.
According to MU Health Care’s Chief Nursing Officer, Shanon Fucik, there is a "distinct possibility" that MU Health Care will no longer be an in-network option for patients insured by Anthem following the contract deadline. This situation could have significant consequences for approximately 90,000 Missouri patients, who primarily rely on Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Health-Link plans through various employer-sponsored plans or the Affordable Care Act.
Impact on Patients
As negotiations intensify, patients who are currently covered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are urged to consider the potential impacts on their healthcare options. Fucik remarked, “We are asking our patients to start the process of filing for continuity of care benefits.” This process is essential for patients who may need to continue receiving care from MU Health Care facilities despite a change in their insurance network status.
In contrast, Mu Health Care assures its patients that emergency room services and the Mizzou Pharmacy will continue to be accessible regardless of the contract status with Anthem.
Anthem’s Response
In a statement issued to local media, Anthem spokesman Jeff Blunt expressed disappointment over the ongoing negotiations. He noted, “We’re disappointed that MU Health Care continues to demand 39% price increases over the next three years for its patients covered by Anthem. Our current offer to MU Health Care is fair, and we ask MU Health Care to join us in working to keep care accessible and affordable for our community.”
As the situation unfolds, both MU Health Care and Anthem remain committed to negotiations, drawing attention to the importance of collaboration in maintaining affordable healthcare access for the community.
For Further Information
Patients and community members with questions or concerns regarding their insurance and healthcare access are encouraged to contact MU Health Care directly at 573-650-5409. As negotiations between MU Health Care and Anthem progress in the coming days, stakeholders on both sides will be watching closely to see how this issue impacts local healthcare dynamics.
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