DALLAS – Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) have signed a new agreement providing patients with BCBSTX health insurance uninterrupted in-network access to Tenet's hospitals, employed physicians and outpatient centers in the state.
"We are pleased to reach an early renewal on this important contract and avoid any disruption to the high-quality care that patients with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas health insurance expect from our providers," said Clint Hailey, chief managed care officer for Tenet. "We look forward to maintaining our long-standing relationship with Blue Cross."
The multiyear agreement includes all of BCBSTX's commercial and traditional PPO and HMO products. The contract also adds Tenet's newest teaching hospital, The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus, in El Paso.
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas values its relationship with Tenet and we look forward to continuing it long into the future," said Jack Towsley, BCBSTX divisional senior vice president of health care delivery. "This multiyear agreement builds upon our commitment to provide our more than five million members access to quality, cost-effective care."
Tenet and BCBSTX also have an accountable care arrangement covering more than 80,000 lives, with an aim of reducing costs, increasing efficiency and improving quality.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) — the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and 500 hospitals to serve 5 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth-largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.