Blue Cross to add Via Christi as in-network provider - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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The five-year agreement takes effect Jan. 1. It means more than 110,000 Blue Cross Blue Shiel d of Kansas members in Sedgwick County will be covered for servicews atVia Christi. Add in the other members who get thei r coverage from Blue Cross outside of Kansas and that numbef balloons to morethan 140,000, says Graha m Bailey vice president of corporate communications at Blue Cross. “We’res trying to meet the needs of our Bailey says.
“You’re here to serve a and one of the things that is becominfg more apparent is people want This is a watershed Withthe agreement, Blue Cross will send paymentws directly to Via Christi instead of reimbursinfg members who previously were responsible for paying the medicaol center. The agreement also includes members who havethe insurer’sw Plan 65-Select Medicare supplement The deal expands a limited partnershi between Blue Cross Blue Shiels and Via Christi, where the two have worked together undet a special services agreement that coverexd such treatments as burns, transplants and inpatient psychiatri c care.
Michalene Maringer, president and CEO of the Via Christk WichitaHealth Network, says the partnership offers additional coverage optionzs for Via Christi patients. “I think it is just a maturation of the she says ofthe deal. “It speakas volumes for the quality of care that Via Christo has inthe community.” Both sides say the deal was predicates by increasing demand from patrons for choice. “We’ve heard from so many familiez whose coverage is through Blue Cross that they wishefd they could come to us for all of their hospital care rather than for just those servicexs covered under the limited service Maringer says. “Now, patients will have a choice.
” remains Blue Cross’ only locak in-network hospital at least through the end of the Bailey says Blue Cross is working with Wesley to extenr its agreement asan in-network If that deal, which could be finalized this fall, is reached Blue Cross would have two in-network hospitals in Wichita. “We are reaching out to othert facilities looking for opportunities to jointhe (Blue Cross) Bailey says. Thursday’s announcement marked the seconds time this year a majord health insurance provider added a Wichita hospital asan in-networl provider. Preferred Health Systems earlier this year addeed Galichia Heart Hospital asa provider.