HSHS, Prevea and Anthem reach new agreement

Hospital Sisters Health System, Prevea Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin announced a new multi-year agreement Monday.

Under the agreement, Anthem members will continue to have in-network access to Prevea Health and HSHS hospitals in Green Bay, Oconto Falls and Sheboygan.

Anthem said in a recent statement that their current contract was set to expire at the end of the month. It called on the organizations to change the way they provide care given high healthcare prices in the area.

Dr. Ashok Rai, president and CEO of Prevea Health, said they were pleased an agreement was reached.

“We are grateful our partnership with Anthem will continue into the future as we provide health, healing and hope for all we care for in eastern Wisconsin,” said Andrew Bagnall, president and CEO of HSHS Wisconsin.

Prevea and HSHS have nearly 400 providers, 85 health centers and four hospitals in eastern Wisconsin.

Anthem has more than 1.3 million commercial, Medicare and Medicaid members in the state.

“With Wisconsin healthcare costs among the highest in the nation, this agreement is a particular win for consumers because both parties worked together to moderate costs and further the trend toward value-based healthcare models,” Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin President Paul Nobile said in a statement.

An Anthem spokesman said they’re not disclosing how long the contract will last.