Physicians Call on Anthem/Elevance to Withdraw Policy Limiting Physician Availability at Hospitals Across New York State

April 7, 2026
For Immediate Release

Physicians Call on Anthem/Elevance to Withdraw Policy Limiting Physician Availability at Hospitals Across New York State

Statement Attributable to:
Mark James Adams, MD, MBA
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“It is outrageous that Anthem/Elevance is planning to penalize hospitals with steep financial penalties unless every single physician associated with that hospital is in the plan’s network. The policy will significantly harm patient access to often-urgently needed care by limiting physicians available at hospitals to deliver care, and by harming the many financially stretched hospitals across our state.

“These impacts are a significant reason why New York has had a law for years that actually prohibits health insurance plans linking the hospital’s network status to the status of a staff physician. This new payment financial penalty is clearly inconsistent with this statute. Furthermore, other states such as Indiana have recently passed laws to prohibit the tactic that Anthem is attempting to implement here in New York. The American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, and Federation of American Hospitals have all also sent letters to Anthem/Elevance urging that they withdraw this harmful policy, arguing it could limit patients’ choice of providers, mislead them about where they can access care and mirrors a “network matching” approach that the US Congress considered but rejected due to its unworkability when it passed the No Surprises Act.

“Even if Anthem was permitted by law to implement such a policy, it should first have to prove that it attempted to fairly negotiate a participation contract with every physician connected with that hospital they are attempting to penalize. The reality is that they do not, as evidenced by recent lawsuits accusing Elevance of having “ghost networks” embellishing the listing of physicians that participate with their plan.

“The end result of this short-sighted policy will be further consolidation in our healthcare system, and/or reduced patient access to immediately needed care at in our hospitals across the State, including in already overstressed emergency departments. Our policymakers must step in to make sure it is not permitted to go forward before patient access to care is harmed.”

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Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents, and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

Media Contact:
Roseann Raia | Manager, Communications
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Avenue
Westbury, NY 11590
516.488.6100 x302 | [email protected]

Julie Vecchione
Vice President, Communications
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Avenue
Westbury, NY 11590
516.488.6100 x340 | [email protected]