United Digestive to Remain In-Network for Anthem Members Across Georgia Under New Multi-Year Agreement
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield today announced a new, multi-year provider network agreement with United Digestive, ensuring continued in-network access to comprehensive gastrointestinal (GI) care for Anthem members across Georgia. The agreement reinforces a long-standing collaboration between the two organizations and reflects a shared commitment to improving patient access, advancing clinical innovation, and delivering high-quality, cost-effective digestive healthcare throughout the region.
United Digestive is a physician practice management company that supports leading gastroenterology providers and partner practices across the Southeastern United States, including Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Many of United Digestive’s affiliated practices have been deeply rooted in their communities for more than four decades, delivering specialized GI care to generations of patients. Through this renewed agreement, Anthem members in Georgia will continue to have access to United Digestive’s extensive network of experienced physicians, advanced diagnostic services, and integrated treatment options.
Strengthening Access to Essential Gastrointestinal Care
Digestive health plays a critical role in overall wellness, yet gastrointestinal conditions remain among the most common and complex health challenges facing patients today. Disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, acid reflux, and colorectal cancer require specialized care, early detection, and coordinated treatment strategies. By maintaining United Digestive as an in-network provider, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield aims to ensure that its members across Georgia can continue to receive timely, high-quality GI care without disruption.
We are pleased to continue our valued partnership with United Digestive to provide quality, comprehensive digestive healthcare services for our members,” said Robert Bunch, President of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia. “United Digestive has a strong focus on offering both diagnostic and treatment services that support critical gastrointestinal health. This collaboration ultimately leads to better health outcomes for our members and reinforces our shared mission of improving access to care across Georgia.”
The agreement supports Anthem’s broader strategy of partnering with provider organizations that demonstrate strong clinical performance, patient-centered care models, and a commitment to innovation. For United Digestive, the renewed partnership ensures continued collaboration with one of the region’s largest health insurers, benefiting both patients and providers.
United Digestive’s Integrated, Innovation-Driven Care Model
United Digestive has made significant investments in clinical innovation to expand access to care, improve patient experiences, and reduce overall healthcare costs. Central to its approach is a comprehensive, integrated care model that brings together physicians, advanced technology, real-time data, and care coordination tools to support patients throughout their healthcare journey.
Through the use of sophisticated algorithms and data-driven platforms, United Digestive is addressing some of the most pressing challenges in digestive healthcare, including the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, yet it is highly preventable and treatable when detected early. United Digestive’s technology-enabled screening and monitoring programs are designed to increase screening adherence, identify high-risk patients, and facilitate timely interventions.
By integrating diagnostic services, treatment pathways, and follow-up care, United Digestive helps reduce fragmentation in the healthcare system—a common barrier to effective treatment for patients with complex GI conditions. This coordinated approach not only improves measurable patient outcomes but also enhances efficiency for providers and payers alike.
A Shared Commitment to Quality and Outcomes
According to Neal C. Patel, MD, Chief Executive Officer of United Digestive, the renewed agreement with Anthem reflects a shared vision for the future of healthcare—one that prioritizes quality, innovation, and collaboration.
“This enhanced partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield reinforces our mutual commitment to delivering exceptional digestive healthcare,” said Dr. Patel. “By combining advanced clinical innovation with improved care coordination, we are creating a stronger, more efficient healthcare experience for the patients and communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time, while also supporting physicians with the tools and infrastructure they need to succeed.”
Dr. Patel emphasized that United Digestive’s physician-led model allows clinicians to focus on delivering high-quality care while benefiting from centralized operational, technological, and administrative support. This structure enables physicians to adopt best practices, leverage advanced analytics, and participate in value-based care initiatives that align incentives around quality and outcomes.
Enhancing Digital Connectivity and Administrative Efficiency
Beyond maintaining network access, Anthem and United Digestive plan to deepen their collaboration through initiatives focused on enhanced digital connectivity. These efforts are designed to streamline administrative processes, reduce burdens on providers, and improve the overall patient experience.
Key areas of collaboration include improving data sharing, optimizing referral and authorization workflows, and leveraging digital tools to support care coordination. By enhancing interoperability between systems, the two organizations aim to reduce delays, minimize redundancies, and allow clinicians to spend more time focused on patient care.
Reducing administrative complexity is a priority for both Anthem and United Digestive, particularly as healthcare providers face increasing documentation requirements and operational pressures. Simplified processes and better digital integration can lead to faster decision-making, improved accuracy, and lower costs—benefits that ultimately extend to patients.
Advancing Value-Based, Patient-Centered Care
The renewed agreement also aligns with broader industry trends toward value-based care, where reimbursement is increasingly tied to quality, outcomes, and cost efficiency rather than volume alone. United Digestive’s integrated care model and data-driven approach position it well to support value-based initiatives, particularly in managing chronic GI conditions and preventive care.
For Anthem, partnering with organizations that demonstrate measurable improvements in patient outcomes is critical to delivering value to members and employers. By working closely with United Digestive, Anthem can support care models that emphasize prevention, early intervention, and coordinated treatment—key drivers of both better health outcomes and cost containment.
Patients covered by Anthem health plans stand to benefit from improved access to specialized GI care, more coordinated treatment experiences, and a continued focus on preventive services such as colorectal cancer screening. These efforts contribute to improved quality of life for patients while helping to manage long-term healthcare costs.
Long-Term Impact Across Georgia and the Southeast
Georgia remains a key market for both Anthem and United Digestive, with a growing population and increasing demand for specialized healthcare services. The multi-year nature of the agreement provides stability and predictability for patients, providers, and health plan members, ensuring continuity of care across United Digestive’s partner practices in the state.
In addition to Georgia, United Digestive’s presence across Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina positions the organization to support regional care coordination and best-practice sharing across the Southeast. While the current agreement focuses on Georgia-based Anthem members, the partnership underscores the potential for broader collaboration as healthcare systems continue to evolve.
As healthcare continues to undergo rapid transformation, partnerships between insurers and provider organizations will play an increasingly important role in shaping care delivery. The renewed agreement between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and United Digestive highlights the importance of collaboration, innovation, and shared accountability in meeting the needs of patients.
By maintaining in-network access, investing in digital connectivity, and advancing integrated care models, Anthem and United Digestive are working together to address both current and future challenges in digestive healthcare. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care while improving efficiency and outcomes across the healthcare system.
For Anthem members across Georgia, the agreement provides reassurance that they will continue to have access to trusted gastrointestinal providers and advanced care options. For United Digestive and its physician partners, the collaboration supports continued innovation and growth in delivering specialized digestive healthcare across the region.
About United Digestive
United Digestive is a leading physician practice management organization serving GI physicians and gastroenterology practices across the Southeast. Practices that are part of United Digestive benefit from advanced infrastructure and operational insights, along with investments in regional growth. Physician Partners enjoy a dyad leadership model with reduced administrative burden and local support to provide the highest-quality patient care. United Digestive is growing at a rapid pace, supporting 61 clinics, 22 ASCs, and more than 220 providers practicing in four states – Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
