AdministrativeCommercialMedicare AdvantageMedicaidNovember 9, 2023

Brand name transition

Top five things to know about our name change to Anthem

Beginning January 1, 2024, Empire became Anthem. This article, published under the former brand, now applies to Anthem.

This communication applies to Commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage plans from Empire.

In our October newsletter, we introduced Anthem, our new name that will be effective on January 1, 2024. On that date, Empire will become Anthem.

The most important things you need to know about this change are:

  • There’s no action for our care providers. There will be no changes to your agreements or contract, reimbursement, or level of support.
  • Prior authorizations or referrals do not need to be resubmitted/reissued due to brand changes.
  • The Medicaid provider call center number is changing. On January 1, 2024, you will call 800-450-8753. All other lines of business/product provider phone numbers remain the same.
  • Our public provider website and Availity will be updated:
    • On December 9, 2023, you will see Empire-Anthem under Payer Space in Availity.
    • On January 1, 2024, our public provider website will launch under the new brand. We will communicate more information and reminders closer to launch dates to ease this transition and minimize disruption or confusion when doing business with us.
  • Member ID cards are changing, but not the member’s ID number. We will be issuing new ID cards to our members with the Anthem logo along with notice of our name change.

Continue to check https://empireblue.com/provider for more key dates and information you need to know about this change.

Medicaid products offered by Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus, trade name of HealthPlus HP, LLC. Services provided by Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., or Empire BlueCross BlueShield Retiree Solutions. Empire BlueCross BlueShield Retiree Solutions is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. lndependent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

NYBCBS-CDCRCM-038209-23-CPN38142