Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Eastern Connecticut Health Network Renew Hospital Agreements

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. and MANCHESTER, Conn., Dec. 29. 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) and Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) announced today they have reached agreement on the continuation of their participating contracts for Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital.  As a result, the hospitals will continue as participating hospitals in Anthem's networks without interruption.  Covered services provided by the hospitals to Anthem members will continue on an in-network basis. The details of the new contract, effective January 1, 2012, were not released.

"We are pleased to have reached agreements with Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospitals that allow Anthem and the hospitals to continue our valuable relationship," said David R. Fusco, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "We know that our members rely on us to balance both access to health care services and costs. This arrangement will continue to provide our members with uninterrupted access to quality care at Manchester and Rockville hospitals."  

"We are pleased to be able to continue an in-network relationship with Anthem and its members," says Peter J. Karl, president and CEO at ECHN. "This agreement benefits our patients by supporting our mission and allowing us to continue to provide the highest quality of care."

As part of the agreement, the hospitals will participate in Anthem's Quality-In-Sights®: Hospital Incentive Program, a program designed to measure and help improve health care quality and patient safety.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut

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 www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.

About ECHN

ECHN is a not-for-profit health care system serving 19 towns in eastern Connecticut. Its network of affiliates includes Manchester Memorial Hospital, Rockville General Hospital, Woodlake at Tolland Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Eastern Connecticut Medical Professionals, Women's Center for Wellness, Visiting Nurse & Health Services of CT, Eastern Connecticut Cancer Institute, and more. Visit our website at www.echn.org for more detailed information about the health system. 

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield