Anthem BC/BS Gives $50K Grant for Testing

The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation will make a $50,000 grant to the Nevada Health Centers to go toward the free testing and follow-up counseling of Las Vegans who received services from the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada.

"Our hearts go out to those who have suffered distress as a result of this most unfortunate situation," said Mike Murphy, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada. "Our grant will help many of the Las Vegans who have been directed to have tests for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV, to access them at no cost."

"I am very appreciative to Anthem for moving in a positive direction to assist patients in Las Vegas to get the testing they need," said Dr. Heard, interim CEO and chief medical officer of Nevada Health Centers. "As a community health program, we want to do everything we can to assist with this very important public health issue. We urge all the people who are at risk to get tested and we will announce the testing sites in the next day or two."

Anthem has also taken the following actions to protect the health and safety of Las Vegans and provide support to the community during this health crisis. Specifically, Anthem has:

• Terminated facilities from the network: As the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada has had its business licenses revoked or suspended, Anthem has terminated its contract with this facility. To the extent they were in the network, the affiliated providers whose business licenses were revoked or suspended have been similarly terminated.

• Partnered with the Southern Nevada Health District to determine how best to provide support and assistance to the Las Vegas community and those people directly affected by this situation. Our intention is to assist the Health District as they manage this process, from notification to screening to follow-up.

• Identifying Anthem members who received services through the facilities in question so as to share information about testing options, useful support and informational resources and benefit coverage.

Source: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Nevada