Please be advised Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor (A4), with exclusive contracts to provide anesthesia services at BCBSM-participating facilities listed below, has informed BCBSM and BCN of its intention to terminate its participation with all BCBSM product lines, starting July 16, 2019. A4 practices out of:

• Trinity System Facilities (6)
  • St Joseph Mercy Oakland
  • St Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor
  • Mercy Health Saint Mary’s -Grand Rapids
  • St Joseph Mercy Hospital Howell/Livingston
  • St Mary’s Mercy Hospital Livonia
  • St Joseph Mercy Chelsea
• Beaumont System Facilities (4)
  • Beaumont Hospital - Taylor
  • Beaumont Hospital - Trenton
  • Beaumont Hospital - Wayne
  • Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn
• Forest Health Medical Center - Ypsilanti

The following information applies to BCBSM commercial PPO members and BCN Commercial HMO Members. For Medicare members, we will continue to pay rates approved by Medicare for anesthesiology services delivered at a hospital. Based on Medicare payment rules for hospitals, the Blues do not anticipate impact for MA members receiving anesthesia services from A4 at the hospital.

Because of the exclusive contract(s) held between Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor (A4) and the listed facilities, members are not able to choose participating anesthesiologists at these hospitals. 

The Blues regret this unfortunate situation and have been diligently working with A4 to help minimize any impact this has on members. Over the past several weeks, during lengthy discussions with A4, they have communicated their clear intention to keep members out of this dispute and not subject them to balance billing. However, given that A4 will no longer be participating with Blue Cross or Blue Care Network, they have no way of totally eliminating the potential that members could be balance billed for anesthesia services obtained at these hospitals. We are watching this situation closely.

The Blues are asking surgeons and other physicians who schedule patients at these facilities to also monitor the situation and notify them at ProviderOutreach@bcbsm.com if they learn that A4 is balance billing members. They will keep you apprised of significant developments and will post any updates on this website (web-DENIS). Should balance billing by A4 occur, hospitals and physicians using A4 services would need to notify members in advance of scheduling services.