No. 1: CoxHealth, Mercy pursue separate pediatric partnerships

A planned pediatric partnership between Springfield’s two largest employers, heralded by economic development specialists as a boon for the area, came to an abrupt end this spring – and CoxHealth and Mercy Springfield Communities are now pursuing collaborations without one another.

Mercy in March entered into a pediatric care partnership with Children’s Mercy Kansas City, four months after jointly announcing with CoxHealth that a request for proposal had been issued to bring on a third-party pediatric partner with the vision for a stand-alone children’s hospital in the community. In response, CoxHealth officials said they “were surprised” and “greatly disappointed” by the decision.

“Since we had already extended the RFP well past the initial deadline, and it was clear we wouldn’t be able to reach an agreement with CoxHealth, we felt it was time to move forward,” Mercy officials said in a statement.

CMKC already has started hiring efforts in Springfield, and the Kansas City organization acquired Pediatrix Cardiology of Springfield as part of the local efforts.

CoxHealth in May inked a pediatric agreement with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, a division of Barnes-Jewish Hospital parent company BJC HealthCare. CoxHealth’s pediatric partnership envisions the creation of a stand-alone pediatric outpatient center, among other initiatives.

“In St. Louis Children’s and Washington University, we are fortunate to have collaborators that are mutually committed to working with us to make Springfield a medical hub for pediatric care,” said Max Buetow, CoxHealth president and CEO, in announcing the partnership.

In SBJ’s January CEO Roundtable podcast on economic development, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Morrow said the planned partnership between CoxHealth and Mercy would have “an enormous regional impact.” Following Mercy’s announcement in March, Morrow told SBJ that the health system’s pact that did not include CoxHealth took him and other community members by surprise.

“It’s disappointing that we aren’t able to proceed with the grander vision that we all hoped to proceed with,” Morrow said. “That said, I think there are opportunities for enhanced children’s health care in our community.”

Mercy also was involved in another big news article this year impacting the health care and insurance landscapes.

In September, Mercy announced its intention to end its contract with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield within the state effective Jan. 1, 2025. Officials with the organizations traded terse words through letters to the editor published in SBJ.

Steve Mackin, president and CEO of Mercy, said, “Anthem unfortunately employs a variety of practices that bind patients in red tape.” Stephanie Vojicic, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri, indicated, in part, that Mercy was “purposefully putting Missouri’s most vulnerable people in jeopardy to extract higher prices.”

In early December, Mercy and Anthem announced they had reached an agreement, though specific details were not provided.

“With the new contract, Anthem members covered by Anthem employer-based, Medicare Advantage and Affordable Care Act Marketplace health plans in Missouri will have uninterrupted in-network access to Mercy doctors and care sites,” a joint announcement noted.