Hello all,
We’re writing to share an important update regarding mental health care coverage, especially if you have Anthem insurance coverage, which includes both Medicaid and private plans. Beginning September 1, 2025, Anthem will delegate all behavioral health claims processing to Carelon Behavioral Health, a subsidiary of Elevance Health.
After careful consideration, At Your Pace Counseling has opted out of joining the Carelon network. This decision was made in response to significant concerns about the sustainability of care under the proposed terms.
What We Know So Far:
- Reimbursement rates for providers are being reduced by 40–57%, which may impact access to care across Indiana.
- These changes affect Hoosier Healthwise, Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Hoosier Care Connect, and private Anthem plans.
- Providers are being auto-enrolled into Carelon contracts, often without consent, leading to confusion and potential disruptions in care.
We want to be transparent: we have not received an updated contract from Carelon to review at this time, and the full implications of this transition are still unclear. We will continue to monitor developments closely and keep you informed as we learn more.
Our Commitment to You:
At Your Pace Counseling was founded on the belief that healing should be accessible, compassionate, and consistent. We remain deeply committed to supporting your mental health journey, even as the landscape around us shifts.
We are actively:
- Advocating at the state level alongside other providers to protect access to care.
- Exploring future options, including the possibility of transitioning to telehealth-only services. This would allow us to reduce the costs associated with maintaining physical office space and help ensure we can continue offering care in a sustainable and accessible way.
Emerging Patterns Across Indiana and Beyond:
Anthem’s transition to Carelon is part of a growing trend among insurers to “carve out” mental health services to third-party entities. While MedPartners has not publicly confirmed a similar transition, this model is gaining traction and may influence other insurers in Indiana and nationally.
Several states are now responding with legal action due to the negative impact on access to care:
- New York has filed class-action lawsuits against Carelon, Anthem, and Elevance Health for maintaining “ghost networks”—inaccurate provider directories that mislead patients into believing care is available when it is not.
- The U.S. Department of Labor has investigated and penalized insurers, including United Healthcare, for violating the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements.
- 15 states and Washington, D.C. have formally challenged limits on behavioral health coverage, citing systemic barriers to care and deceptive practices.
These legal efforts reflect growing concern over how mental health services are being managed, reimbursed, and accessed—especially as demand continues to rise.
What You Can Do:
While we cannot offer direct advice, here are some steps you may consider:
- Contact Anthem to ask whether your behavioral health benefits are being transitioned to Carelon.
- Review your out-of-network benefits to understand your coverage options.
- Speak with your HR department or benefits administrator to express your concerns and request clarification.
- Monitor your insurance portal for updates to your provider network.
Helpful Resources:
- Anthem/Carelon Contract Concerns in Indiana
- Anthem Provider News: Carelon Delegation
- Anthem FAQ from Indy Counseling
We understand that this news may feel unsettling, and we want you to know that your well-being remains our top priority. If you have questions or need help navigating your options, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
This message is being sent by Catanna on behalf of At Your Pace Counseling. William Roberson (wroberson@aypc.email) is cc’d and available for any follow-up questions or concerns. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more and explore ways to maintain continuity of care.
With care,
Catanna Roberson, LMFT
Certified EMDR Therapist & Consultant-in-Training | TCM Practitioner
At Your Pace Counseling
4646 West Jefferson Boulevard, Suite #270
Tx: 260-207-4252 | Fx: 260-201-9557
and
William E. Roberson III
At Your Pace Counseling, LLC
Owner and Office Manager
At Your Pace Counseling, LLC
Phone / Text: 260-207-4241
Email: wroberson@aypc.email