Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Joins Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Exchange Network

Anthem’s exchange network includes all of Connecticut’s hospitals

Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Joins Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Exchange Network

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue ShieldSarah Yeager, 203-859-0996orSaint Francis Hospital and Medical CenterFiona Phelan, 860-714-1076/ 860-712-8517

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center announced today they have reached an agreement and Saint Francis has joined Anthem’s exchange network starting October 1. The addition of Saint Francis to Anthem’s exchange network provides Anthem’s exchange members more options and additional access to in-network providers in the greater Hartford area.

Under the new contract, as of October 1, Anthem’s exchange members will be able to receive care from Saint Francis and its clinical partners at an in-network level of benefits. Individuals who are enrolled in Anthem’s other commercial plans already have in-network access to Saint Francis  and its affiliated entities.

Saint Francis’ clinical partners include Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, Collaborative Laboratory Services, and Saint Francis Behavioral Health Group.

“The expanded relationship between Anthem and Saint Francis is very good news for our physicians and our patients,” said Christopher Dadlez, President and Chief Executive Officer at Saint Francis. “This is an important step forward for Saint Francis to become part of Anthem’s in-network option and offers Anthem’s exchange members the ability to receive the exceptional medical care and breadth of clinical services that are uniquely offered at our hospital at an in-network level of benefits.”

“Saint Francis is an important provider of health care services so we are incredibly excited that, through our newly expanded relationship, Anthem's exchange members can now receive services from Saint Francis and its affiliated providers at their highest benefit level,” said Jill Hummel, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “I am very pleased that with the addition of Saint Francis, Anthem exchange members now have another in-network hospital option in the Hartford area.”

Anthem serves more than 1.3 million people in Connecticut with a network of 28 hospitals. More than 60% of exchange customers chose Anthem as their carrier of choice.

Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center is an independent medical center with more than 900 physicians and medical professionals and more than 5,000 employees. It provides advanced care in a wide range of medical specialties and has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center for bariatric surgery and a Blue Distinction Center+ for cardiac care, knee and hip replacement, and spine surgery.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut is available at . Also, follow us on Twitter at , on Facebook at , or visit our YouTube channel at .

Saint Francis  is an integrated healthcare delivery system established by Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, an anchor institution in north central Connecticut since 1897. Licensed for 617 beds and 65 bassinets, it is a major teaching hospital and the largest Catholic hospital in New England. Other major entities of Saint Francis  include The Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute, the Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute of Connecticut, the Saint Francis/Mount Sinai Regional Cancer Center, the Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research, and Saint Francis Health Partners. Johnson Memorial Medical Center, parent organization of Johnson Memorial Hospital, Evergreen Health Care Center, and Home and Community Health Services is also a Saint Francis Partner. Saint Francis ’s services are supported by a network of five major Access Centers and eight additional medical office centers sited throughout the region. For more information, visit .