Boulder Community Health (BCH) recently expressed its intent to terminate its facilities agreement with Anthem and leave the network on July 1. While the university hopes an agreement can be reached, if Anthem and BCH are unable to reach an agreement by July 1, Boulder Community Health’s facilities will be out-of-network for CU employees.
Anthem negotiates facility contracts on behalf of CU. CU Health Plan administration has been in direct contact with Anthem during this process and has emphasized that CU employees need affordable and accessible health care in the Boulder area.
If a new contract is reached, CU Health Plan members will experience no disruption in services. If negotiations are unsuccessful, BCH will leave the Anthem network on July 1.
Things to consider during open enrollment
- Your access to Anthem’s network of doctors and specialists will not change. Many doctors have admitting privileges to multiple facilities. This means that if you need to use a hospital for a procedure, you will have a variety of facility options. Check with your physician about their admitting privileges.
- If accessing Boulder Community Health facilities is important to you, consider enrolling in CU Health Plan – High Deductible, which will allow you to use BCH facilities at out-of-network rates.
- If no agreement is reached and Boulder Community Health leaves the Anthem network, Employee Services will review employee requests on a case-by-case basis.
Access to care
If BCH leaves the network, employees on CU Health Plan – High Deductible can still use their out-of-network benefits, meaning they can still use BCH facilities at a 35 percent coinsurance rate compared to the 15 percent rate for in-network providers. BCH facility services for employees on all other CU Health Plans (except for CU Health Plan – Medicare) would not be covered.
Emergency services remain covered at any hospital regardless of plan.
BCH facilities
- Boulder Community Hospital
- Boulder MRI, LLC
- Endoscopy Center of the Rockies (Boulder, Lafayette, and Longmont)
- Foothills Hospital
- Foothills Surgery Center
- Musculoskeletal Surgery Center
Physicians who admit to BCH hospitals and facilities are being notified of this development.
Anthem facilities available to you
- Centura Avista Hospital
- Good Samaritan Medical Center
- HealthONE – North Suburban Medical Center
- Longmont United Hospital
- McKee Medical Center
- UCHealth Broomfield Hospital, LLC
- UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital
See a complete list of 21 Boulder-area facilities.
Transitional care
In the event BCH leaves Anthem’s network, CU Health Plan members will be allowed a transitional care period. If a course of treatment is approved by Anthem prior to July 1, the treatment will be covered for up to 60 days. Depending on the member’s condition, the transitional period could potentially be extended for up to 90 days.
Learn more
CU Health Plan members can stay informed about this potential transition by visiting Anthem’s network updates website or Boulder Community Health’s website.
The University of Colorado recommends CU Health Plan members call Boulder Community Health with questions and concerns and encourage them to remain in the Anthem network at 303-415-4271.
