SALINAS, CA, November 27, 2023 – Salinas Valley Health and Anthem Blue Cross (Anthem) announced today that they have successfully reached agreement on a new contract that focuses on new care delivery models designed to lower costs and increase value for Anthem members in Monterey County.

The new contract provides those in Monterey County insured by Anthem, the reassurance, comfort and convenience of in-network access to Salinas Valley Health, consisting of the Hospital, Salinas Valley Medical Clinics, Taylor Farms Family Health & Wellness Center and Doctors on Duty Medical Group.

In addition to supporting access to valuable patient care options, the new contract aligns reimbursement rates with improved health outcomes and quality-of-care indicators, reflecting Salinas Valley Health’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality care. 

“We are pleased with this new contract,” says Pete Delgado, Salinas Valley Health President/CEO. “Our leadership team as well as our counterparts at Anthem worked hard to reach an agreement that serves our patients and community. We believe we have negotiated a contract that allows us to continue to deliver quality healthcare for the residents of Monterey County, while also improving reimbursements for that care.”

“This new agreement demonstrates the strong commitment by both organizations to deliver access to high-quality, affordable care for the commercial health plan members we mutually serve in Monterey County – a win-win for employers and consumers,” said Beth Andersen, President of Anthem Blue Cross. “Aligning payment to quality outcomes like readmission rates, patient safety, and patient satisfaction increases preventive care, improves chronic condition management, reduces hospital admissions, incentivizes whole health and ultimately lowers costs for local healthcare consumers and their employers.”

The new contract applies to Anthem members enrolled in individual and employer-sponsored health plans and is retroactive to August 1, 2023.

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About Salinas Valley Health
Salinas Valley Health exists to help our community rise through good health. Founded in 1953 as Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, today we serve individuals and families throughout the Salinas Valley, Monterey Peninsula, and surrounding region. Salinas Valley Health employs more than 2,000 people and consists of a network of resources and collaborations which include a 263-bed acute care medical center; primary, specialty, and urgent care clinics; a mobile clinic; and community-based health and wellness programs such as Blue Zones Project Monterey County. We deliver evidence-based quality and patient-focused care to improve health and wellbeing for all. www.salinasvalleyhealth.com

About Anthem Blue Cross (Blue Cross of California)

As a long-time trusted health partner, Anthem Blue Cross has been providing high-quality, affordable health care for Californians for more than 85 years. As one of California’s largest health insurers, Anthem Blue Cross provides health care services to more than nine million members in all 58 counties, providing access to more than 500 hospitals, 100,000 doctors, and over 30,000 behavioral health physicians. Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Elevance Health, Inc.. Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. To learn more, visit www.anthem.com/ca. Also, follow us on Twitter at or Facebook.

Media Contacts

Karina Rusk email: krusk@SalinasValleyHealth.com  phone: 831-594-7723

Mike Bowman email: Michael.Bowman@anthem.com phone: 916-584-6043