Elevance/Anthem is attempting to merge their behavioral health network with Carelon, a company owned by Elevance, by forcing Indiana providers to sign contract amendments under Carelon to take effect 9/1/25 that reduce reimbursement rates by 40-57%. Rate reductions of this magnitude would have widespread effects on access to mental health services and have an impact on MD/DO, advance practice nurses, licensed therapists (professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers), and psychologists who practice in a variety of settings. Approximately half of Hoosiers are covered by Anthem Commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid plans, all of which are subject to these changes and should Anthem transition plans to Carelon under the new reimbursement rates, providers would be forced to exit the network leaving Indiana residents without access to timely and quality mental healthcare. 

Similar transitions are occurring in several states with detrimental effects and several pending lawsuits, including situations in which Anthem allows providers to "opt out" of Carelon rates while shifting provider contracts to Carelon, creating a "ghost network" where policyholders call providers listed as "in-network" only to be told those providers do not accept their insurance policies. 

As providers, we care deeply about our clients, our profession, and our colleagues in Indiana and nationally that are being exploited by these new policies. Therefore, we request:

1.) Carelon will bring their behavioral health reimbursement fee schedule to market rates that meets or exceeds Anthem's current contracted fee schedule, OR

2.) Anthem, not Carelon, will maintain behavioral health contracts, honoring the current terms and fee schedules to which the providers are presently contracted, AND

3.) Only providers who accept in full the Carelon contract, without opting out of the Carelon fee schedule, will be counted toward Carelon's provider network, ensuring providers are not complicit in misleading the public to purchase policies without a sustainable provider network to provide mental health care services

Who can sign this petition: mental health providers nationally, any Anthem-paneled provider regardless of specialty, individuals who hold Anthem healthcare policies or Carelon policies, or those with a love-one for whom they are financially responsible who are covered under Anthem or Carelon.