LEADING CALIFORNIA BUSINESS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS WARNED OF CONSEQUENCES OF ANTHEM BLUE CROSS POLICY Implementing During Pandemic Harms Patients, Employers, & Economy



The California Rheumatology Alliance (CRA) along with many other physician and patient advocacy organizations are working to enlist the business community to join in its fight against implementation of a harmful prescription policy from Anthem Blue Cross. The dangerous policy will make it nearly impossible for certain treatments (specifically infusion therapy) to be conducted in physician offices – under their care. The policy is being rushed to implementation on December 1, 2020.



In letters to business advocacy organizations, CRA warns the business community of the looming threat to the California workforce. Recipients of the letter include, but are not limited to:



• California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber)
• California Federation of Business & Professional Women
• California Small Business Association
• California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce



“Anthem’s new policy transfers medications covered on the medical side of insurance to the pharmacy side. While more economically lucrative for the payers and specialty pharmacies, based on the hidden fees and price concessions - the patient is harmed, as are the businesses employing them,” stated Dr. Samy Metyas, CRA’s President. “Patients that delay treatment or go elsewhere (like a hospital) for care will experience longer waits, less oversight, and substantially higher out of pocket costs. Forcing patients to take on these added burdens, at a time like this, is shameful.”



The letter to business advocacy organizations states in part:



“…Delay or loss of medical treatment results in increased disease activity resulting in further increases in costs to patient health and welfare. Missed time from work, and lower productivity will cost employers immensely more than any savings promised by this policy change….



…As patient access to proper treatments is lost, it costs everyone more…”



“As physicians on the front lines of medical care, we will fight for our patients,” Dr. Metyas continued. “As someone on the front lines protecting California businesses, surely these business-oriented organizations care for the wellbeing of its members too. Hopefully, we will join forces to educate employers and patients to avoid securing insurance policies that reduce access to care.”



CRA sent a letter requesting a meeting last week to Anthem’s California Plan President, Beth Anderson that has so far, gone unanswered.



“Doctors and patients are worried. From oncologists, to rheumatologists and ophthalmologists, – the dangers of this policy are very real,” said Dr. Metyas. “Anthem’s silence is creating more concern among patients, particularly now when a sense of security and stability is what people are seeking. It must reconsider.”

The California Rheumatology Alliance is a specialty physician association comprised of rheumatologists from community practices and medical centers throughout the state. The majority of its members come from the Northern California Rheumatology Society (NCRS), the Southern California Rheumatology Society (SCRS) and the San Diego Rheumatology Society (SDRS). Membership has since expanded to include all those health professionals regularly engaged in the care of patients with rheumatic diseases.



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Please visit https://www.calrheum.org/



For more information, or to schedule an interview with a CRA spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or daniel.rene@kglobal.com