BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS, ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM REACH AGREEMENT PROVIDING BLUE CROSS MEMBERS CONTINUED NETWORK ACCESS
More than 257,000 Blue Cross Members in Bell, Hays and Tarrant Counties to Benefit from New, Multi-Year Contract Ensuring Continuity, Cost-Effectiveness.

June 7, 2005, Richardson, Texas — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas announced today that it has finalized negotiations with Adventist Health System involving three hospitals (Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos; Huguley Memorial Medical Center in Fort Worth; and Metroplex Health System in Killeen).  The facilities will remain part of the Blue Cross network and members in the Bell, Hays and Tarrant County areas will be able to continue using these facilities and receive in-network benefits.

“We are very pleased that negotiations have been completed and a multi-year contract has been signed, allowing Blue Cross members to continue using Adventist hospitals without any break in service,” says Ted Haynes, vice president, Network Management, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.  “The agreement provides for our members to receive in-network benefits, which means fewer out-of-pocket costs for Blue Cross members who use those facilities.”

If Blue Cross members have questions about benefits or their provider’s participation in the network, they may contact the Customer Service department by calling the customer service number on the back of their ID cards.

“We believe our customers in the Killeen, San Marcos and Fort Worth areas,  will be as pleased as we are that an agreement has been reached which will keep our medical facilities in the Blue Cross network,” says Russ Weaver, regional director of Managed Care, Adventist Health System.  “The contract will give patients continuity with the convenient access they are accustomed to for medical services and the opportunity to continue using the same providers.”

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is the only statewide, non-investor owned health coverage provider in Texas, serving more than 3.5 million members in all 254 counties.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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