Anthem to Drop Meridian Health Services from Medicaid Network July 25 — Hartford City Office Affected

Anthem Inc. will remove Meridian Health Services from its Medicaid network on July 25, cutting off approximately 18,000 children and adults statewide from behavioral health and primary care services through Meridian.

Meridian operates a location in Hartford City at 118 East Washington Street, where it provides behavioral health and primary care. Meridian is also the sponsoring agency for the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) nutrition program in Blackford County and five surrounding counties — Adams, Jay, Wells, Randolph, and Huntington.

The change affects only Medicaid patients who access Meridian services through Anthem. Patients with Medicare, employer-sponsored insurance, or private insurance through Anthem are not affected.

Meridian CEO Seth Warren said Anthem did not explain its reason for the decision. Meridian's per-visit rate of approximately $625 is the highest among Indiana's 40 federally qualified health centers — about $300 above the average. Medicaid reimburses only $100 per visit, with insurers covering the remainder. Columbus Regional Hospital was also dropped from Anthem's Medicaid network.

As a federally qualified health center, Meridian is required to provide care regardless of a patient's insurance status or ability to pay. Blackford County Medicaid recipients who currently receive services at Meridian's Hartford City office through Anthem will need to find alternative providers or coverage arrangements before the July 25 deadline.

Source: InsuranceNewsNet, Inside Indiana Business, Meridian Health Services website