Anthem and MU Health Care fail to reach agreement (2025)

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and MU Health Care have failed to reach an agreement on their commercial contracts, meaning Anthem will be out of network at MU Health Care starting Tuesday.

The decision follows stallingcontract discussions between both parties to continue their contracts.

The move now puts more than 90,000 MU Health Care patients in the gray, according to an MU Health Care spokesperson.

Prior to the decision, an Anthem spokesperson stated the company is actively looking to find other health care partners.

"With our contract expiring at midnight tonight, we are proactively taking steps to help our members transition to one of the many alternative care providers in our network, including Boone Health, SSM, Jefferson City Medical Group and Moberly Regional Hospital," the spokesperson said. "Anthem members currently in treatment at MU Health Care should contact Anthem’s member service center at the number on their ID card to discuss options for transitioning to an in-network provider or continuing care with their current provider."

In an open letter to Anthem's CEO, MU Health Care CEO Ric Ransom expressed frustration with Anthem's apparent handling of the negotiations.

"We are deeply disappointed in Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s (Anthem’s) decision to discontinue negotiations on our commercial contracts," Ransom wrote in the statement. "To say Anthem’s behavior toward MU Health Care throughout our contract negotiations is unfortunate is putting it mildly. Your actions have put your members — and our patients — in a troublesome, frustrating and perilous situation."

Anthem said in a statement that MU Health Care canceled the negotiation meeting that was set for Monday.

“We’re disappointed that MU Health Care cancelled the negotiation meeting that was scheduled for today instead of providing a response," Anthem said in a statement. "Our current proposal, valid until midnight, includes reasonable payment increases that are in line with other Missouri health systems. MU Health Care’s proposed price increases would increase health care costs many times faster than wage growth for Missouri consumers. We cannot agree to price hikes of this magnitude for our members. Standing up for affordable care for all Missourians is part of our mission."

MU Health Care was seeking a 39% increase in prices over the next three years — which Anthem said was four times the rate of inflation.

"In our last offer, we made reasonable, material concessions as a means to expedite negotiations in the best interest of our patients," Ransom said in the letter to Anthem. "However, Anthem showed no willingness to move forward, effectively decreasing its offer from the previous one and adding retaliatory measures. Responding in this manner after our good faith effort to extend our contract is counterproductive and contradicts Anthem’s public messaging about the negotiations."

Thechange will not impact patients part of Healthy Blue Medicaid, University of Missouri Student Advantage plans and patients who get prescriptions through Mizzou Pharmacy or patients who need medically necessary emergency care.

This story has been updated with a new statement from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.