A showdown between two major hospitals in the St. Louis area and a national health insurer may soon end in canceled business contracts, higher health costs and a flurry of patients fleeing to other medical providers. St. Louis University Hospital and Des Peres Hospital, which are both owned by Tenet Healthcare Corp. of Dallas, blame Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri and also the HealthLink network for the impasse. The two health insurance plans, which are owned by WellPoint Inc. of Indianapolis, counter by blaming Tenet.
