The dispute began in 2021 when Anthem notified Northside it wanted to change its contract, alleging that Northside charged more than most metro hospitals. Northside said the contract was not up for renewal and argued a Georgia bill signed into law during the pandemic prohibited payers from terminating a provider’s in-network coverage for up to 150 days after a public health emergency.
In April, a lower court judge ordered the payer to remain in network “until further order” while transferring the dispute to the state’s insurance department.
Anthem is arguing for a narrower definition of “public health emergency,” according to the report.
The Georgia Supreme Court’s decision in the case is expected within the next six months, but Justice Nels S.D. Peterson said it “might be to the benefit of everybody for y’all just to work this out and moot this case,” according to the report.
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