What happened between Mount Sinai and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield?

Mount Sinai and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to reach a contract agreement by December 31, resulting in approximately 9,000 Mount Sinai physicians being out-of-network for Anthem patients.

How many patients are affected by the Mount Sinai and Anthem contract failure?

An estimated 200,000 Anthem patients annually seek care at Mount Sinai, and the contract failure puts their continued treatment at risk.

What are the implications for patients with complex medical needs?

Patients with complex medical needs, like the DeQuevedo family, face significant challenges in navigating continuity of care and finding suitable alternatives when their doctors are no longer in-network.

Home / Health / Thousands at Risk as Major Hospital Network and Insurer Contract Expires

Thousands at Risk as Major Hospital Network and Insurer Contract Expires

7 Feb

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Summary

Mount Sinai physicians are no longer in-network after contract talks failed.
About 200,000 Anthem patients annually seek care at Mount Sinai.
A family's complex medical case highlights continuity of care challenges.

Thousands at Risk as Major Hospital Network and Insurer Contract Expires

A contract dispute between Mount Sinai and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has left approximately 9,000 Mount Sinai physicians out-of-network for Anthem patients. The failure to reach an agreement by December 31 means patients face potential disruptions in their care, with an estimated 200,000 Anthem patients annually seeking treatment at Mount Sinai.

Negotiations, which began in spring 2025, reportedly stalled around Thanksgiving, leading to Anthem withdrawing its proposals. This has created significant concern among both patients and medical providers, with doctors expressing frustration at the prospect of being unable to care for their existing patients.

The complex case of Callum and Chad DeQuevedo, who rely on Mount Sinai doctors for serious medical conditions, exemplifies the challenges. Despite being covered by Highmark, a different Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, their situation highlights the difficulties patients face. Following media inquiry, Highmark confirmed continuity of care for the DeQuevedos for 90 days, with potential for extensions.