The Maine Bureau of Insurance has approved insurer Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine's proposed network of healthcare providers with some modifications, including instructions to contract with additional specialists.
The network is part of Anthem's agreement with Portland, Maine-based MaineHealth to offer a health plan on the state's new online insurance exchange this fall. The bureau did not address the issue of pricing and additionally set a Sept. 9 hearing for Anthem to address moving its current customer base into the proposed narrow-network plans.
The agreement between MaineHealth and Anthem will limit access to care for tens of thousands of state residents, Maine-based Central Maine Healthcare Vice President of Public Affairs Chuck Gill said earlier this year. Mr. Gill called the arrangement a "backroom deal" that would exclude other health systems.
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