Dignity Health, Anthem Blue Cross Mend Fences, Sign Multi-Year Contract

The new contract – which is retroactive to July 15, when the old contract expired and expires on April 30, 2025 -- ends a month-long public spat.

Dignity Health and Anthem Blue Cross have signed a four-year contract that allows Anthem's beneficiaries in-network access to Dignity.

The new contract – which is retroactive to July 15, when the old contract expired and expires on April 30, 2025 -- ends a month-long public spat between the San Francisco-based provider and Indianapolis-based Anthem.

In posts on its website, Dignity called Anthem the "nation's largest for-profit insurance company," and noted that it recorded $1.7 billion in profits in Q1, which went to shareholders and was "not reinvested in patient care or expanded access."

In return, Anthem called Dignity "one of the more expensive health systems in California. We cannot, and will not, agree to excessive rate increases that will make care at Dignity even less affordable for those we serve."

All that appears to be water under the bridge for the two organizations, both of whom declared victory.

"We are pleased to continue working with Dignity. While we understand this wasn’t easy for consumers, it was necessary for us to stand firm as part of our efforts to help slow the sharp rise in healthcare costs," Anthem Regional Vice President John Pickett said. "Our members remained our number one priority as we worked hard and in good faith to find common ground and reach an agreement with Dignity that helps protect affordability."

Robert Quinn, MD, CEO of Dignity Health Medical Foundation called the new contract "a win for our patients."

"From the beginning, our goal in working with Anthem has always been about ensuring we can continue to meet the needs of our patients today and in the future," he said. "This agreement ensures we can continue to provide value-driven care for Anthem members."