Elevance Health to acquire Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Elevance Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana announced today that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement through which Elevance Health agrees to acquire Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. BCBSLA will join Elevance Health’s affiliated Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield family of brands. This acquisition will unite two organizations deeply rooted in the communities they serve and aligned in a mission to improve whole health. Together they will continue to prioritize what is best for Louisiana’s members and customers by improving access, quality, affordability, and the experience that Louisianians have trusted for almost 90 years. The combination builds on the existing collaboration in Louisiana through joint ownership of Healthy Blue, which serves Medicaid and Medicare Dual Eligible members. It will also accelerate BCBSLA’s strategic evolution to improve access, affordability and quality of services delivered by BCBSLA to the more than 1.9 million members they serve with capabilities developed by Elevance Health and its healthcare services organization, Carelon. With more than $4 billion invested over the past several years, Carelon delivers behavioral health, complex and chronic care programs, and innovative digital models. "Elevance Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana will combine strengths to provide services unique to the needs of Louisiana to better serve members through a whole health personalized approach," said Gail Boudreaux, President and CEO, Elevance Health. "As organizations aligned in our missions, we are excited at the opportunity to bring our leading, innovative whole-health solutions to BCBSLA’s members as we work together to become a lifetime, trusted health partner." The acquisition is expected to close later this year and is subject to customary closing conditions and receipt of certain required approvals. Upon closing, Elevance Health’s affiliated Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans will now operate within 15 states across the country.