Anthem, Middlesex Hospital Reach Contract Agreement

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut and Middlesex Hospital announced Friday afternoon that they have reached a multi-year contract.

The agreement ends a months-long standoff that led to Anthem dropping Middlesex Hospital from its network on Monday, when the previous contract expired. That left Anthem customers faced with either paying higher, out-of-network rates at Middlesex Hospital or going elsewhere for medical services.

This is the most recent of many contract disputes between health insurers and hospitals as both are under pressure to contain medical costs and deliver quality patient care.

Anthem President David R. Fusco said in a prepared statement: “We are confident we have reached the right deal, including initiatives that support our collective efforts to improve quality and outcomes.”