ASCP Letter to Anthem BCBS

posted: August 6, 2019

On behalf of the members of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, I am writing to urge Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to reverse its plans to reduce payment rates for pathology and laboratory medicine services, as outlined in Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s recent amendment to its agreement(s), effective September 1, 2019. Anthem’s cuts have generated considerable angst within national and state pathology and laboratory organizations as well as national, regional and local pathology groups and clinical laboratories due to their potential adverse financial impact on the pathology and laboratory medicine communities as well as the potential negative effect on patients. As a result, these payment rates could influence pathologists and clinical laboratories to decline to participate in-network with Anthem, increasing the likelihood that patients could be exposed to out-ofnetwork costs

Read the Full Letter