Letter to Elliot Joseph, President and CEO of Hartford Healthcare, and Jill Hummel, President and General Manager of Anthem BCBS Connecticut - Resolve Contract Dispute

Letter

Dear Mr. Joseph and Ms. Hummel:

We write today to express our concern for the approximately 60,000 patients and policyholders affected by the ongoing impasse between Anthem and Hartford Healthcare. These Connecticut residents rely on the health care and health coverage provided by your respective organizations, and the current stalemate in negotiations is disruptive and a disservice to them. While we respect that this is a private negotiation between two private entities, and do not make any representations as to the merits of either side's position, we urge you to work in good faith to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Choosing and retaining a health care provider and health insurer is a personal, and often complex, choice. Patients, especially those who are dealing with chronic or acute illnesses, are now left with the difficult choice of either paying higher out-of-network rates or finding care elsewhere with another provider who may not be able to see them when needed. Additionally, this causes significant confusion for patients as to what services remain in-network.

Hartford Healthcare and Anthem both play a significant role in the delivery of health care in the state of Connecticut and have built trusted reputations over their many years of service. Continued gridlock is harmful to everyone involved, and we hope to work with both of you once a solution is reached to ensure Connecticut residents have quality and affordable health care. Thank you in advance for your consideration, as we urge you to seek a prompt resolution.

Sincerely,