Will patients with Anthem insurance be in-network at Summa in 2025

Less than eight hours before 2025 arrives, Summa Health and insurer Anthem had not announced a deal that would continue in-network coverage for about 67,000 patients covered by Anthem in the new year.

A local labor union sent an email to its members Tuesday saying a deal may be close.

“I just wanted to send a quick email to let you know that Anthem and Summa have come to a tentative agreement today,” the email said. “Barring any last second changes, there should not be any further issues with scheduling appointments after the new year.”

The Akron Beacon Journal reached out to a Summa spokesperson late Tuesday who said Summa and Anthem are “continuing to work together on a resolution and will provide updates when they’re available.”

Four days ago, Summa said this about the negotiations with Anthem: “Despite multiple attempts to reach a new agreement keeping Summa in-network, Anthem has not responded in a serious manner and continues to show no urgency to reach a resolution.”

In a message to policyholders posted on its website, Anthem said negotiations have snagged because Summa wants to raise its costs to three times the rate of inflation over the next three years for patients covered by Anthem.

Summa CEO Dr. Cliff Deveny said at the time the Akron-based health system only wants fair compensation from Anthem for its services, and explained that Anthem pays Summa the lowest rates among all of Summa’s in-network insurance providers.

Meanwhile, anxious patients wait to find out if they’ll have access to the services, physicians and other medical staff they have relied on.

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