San Diego, CA

Anthem Blue Cross patients regain access to Scripps Health

Published

10 months ago

May 7, 2025

Anthem Blue Cross patients regain access to Scripps Health

Four months after the contract between Scripps Health and Anthem Blue Cross lapsed, forcing an estimated 125,000 San Diego County residents to consider changing their coverage or finding different doctors, the medical provider announced Tuesday afternoon that the previous relationship has been restored.

Scripps notified patients by email that those with Anthem Blue Cross health insurance coverage can immediately resume making appointments with its approximately 3,000 affiliated doctors and using its network of hospitals and medical offices throughout the region.

In the fall of 2024, Scripps notified patients that the contract with Anthem might not be renewed, citing disagreement with the carrier over reimbursement rates and what the provider said were burdensome requirements for prior approval of billable medical procedures.

Richard Neale, a corporate executive vice president and Scripps’ chief growth officer, said Tuesday afternoon that the new agreement with Anthem simply extends the terms of the previous contract through Sept. 30, 2026.

Disagreements over reimbursement and prior medical approval remain unresolved.

“This is an extension, it is not a new agreement,” Neale said. “So, in a long-term sustainable agreement … those two priorities, which are really breaking down the barriers that interfere with the patient’s ability to get the care that their physician is recommending and to ensure that Scripps gets fair payment, those will be the focal points … that we will be focused on negotiating during the extension period.”

Little information was available on just how many of the more than 125,000 local Anthem beneficiaries stayed with the carrier, hoping for a quick resolution and how many decided to choose a different carrier during the annual open enrollment period, which usually occurs in the fall.

Anthem did not provide information on how many changed carriers or how many health management organization beneficiaries it switched to different local medical providers when Scripps went out of network on Jan. 1.

“We are pleased Scripps Health has rejoined our local network of care providers in San Diego and we look forward to continuing our partnership,” said Beth Andersen, president of Anthem Commercial Health Plans in California, in a statement. “Our members and employer customers remained our number one priority as we worked hard and in good faith to find common ground and reach agreement with Scripps.”

The news came as a relief to many patients Tuesday.

Ron Stolberg of Rancho Penasquitos said that he left Scripps for Sharp HealthCare while his wife tried to stay with Scripps as much as was possible, though some tests needed in the past four months went to Sharp.

“I think it’s great news for those of us that value our history with Scripps, but for many of us, we have gone on and made new relationships with health care providers in other systems,” Stolberg said. “If this was going to get worked out, it would have been great to do it before over 100,000 consumers stressed other health care systems.

“It’s hard to know what to do now, be faithful to a new provider who took us in, or the one we know better but dismissed us over a contract dispute.”

While he said he is on the fence, he said his wife plans to return to Scripps as soon as possible.

Why not extend the contract last year rather than waiting for four months? Neale said that an extension was not on the table.

“We had actually recommended or proposed to Anthem at that time to extend the terms of the existing agreement to negotiate that long-term agreement,” Neale said. “At that time, they turned us down.”

It does not appear that Scripps suffered much financially during the short-lived Anthem divorce. Revenue from third-party payors, for the most part commercial health insurance companies, actually increased slightly in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to quarterly financial reports filed with the state. Scripps confirmed the trend in an email Tuesday.

Neale said that patients with preferred provider or exclusive provider organization insurance, which allows beneficiaries to self-refer to any doctor in their network, immediately gain access, while those with health management organization coverage must go through Anthem.

“For EPO or PPO members, they can call (Scripps) today to get an appointment,” Neale said. “HMO members, they need to call Anthem to seek reassignment to a Scripps provider.”

The new contract does not include Anthem plans on the Covered California health insurance exchange. Neale declined to elaborate on why these plans will not regain Scripps in their provider networks. The executive did say that there were about 14,000 Scripps patients in Covered California Anthem plans at the end of 2024, though some may have switched health insurance companies during annual open enrollment in the fall and early winter of 2024 to retain access to Scripps.

Originally Published: May 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM PDT

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San Diego, CA

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

Published

11 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.

The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.

Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.

El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.

Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.

Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.

Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.

Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.

Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.

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San Diego, CA

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

Published

23 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”

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