Sentara, Anthem End Virginia Contract Talks, No 2027 Deal
Sentara Health ended negotiations with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia over 2027 contract extensions covering Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and ACA exchange plans after the two sides failed to agree by Sentara's Oct. 1 deadline. Sentara had sought a 6.2% blended reimbursement increase while Anthem proposed roughly a 1% decrease, according to Sentara's Chief Administrative Officer Aubrey Layne Jr. The dispute affects nearly 380,000 Anthem members across these lines of business; Sentara says it will go out of network for affected Medicare Advantage and ACA plans starting Jan. 1, 2027, and for affected Medicaid plans starting Jan. 28, 2027. Anthem disputes Sentara's account, saying it offered reimbursement tied to quality and outcomes and that Sentara ended talks after Anthem would not meet demands for far higher payments. Negotiations over employer-sponsored plans remain ongoing.