Insurer, CHI reach contract agreement

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee commercial and Medicare Advantage plan members will be able to use services at CHI Memorial, CHI Memorial Medical Group and the Chattanooga Heart Institute on an in-network basis under a just-announced agreement.

The three-year agreement comes after several months of negotiations, according to Karen Long, CHI Memorial communications manager.

“Our focus remains where it has always been — on the people of this community who trust us to provide for their health care needs,” said Janelle Reilly, market CEO at CHI Memorial, in a news release. “While these negotiations were difficult at times, especially in the midst of another COVID-19 surge, we are glad to come together and prevent a disruption.”

Todd Ray, senior vice president of corporate provider network management and Medicare products at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, said BlueCross officials “always strive to balance quality, access and affordability in our networks, and sometimes that can be challenging. We’re pleased to continue our relationship with CHI Memorial, [which] has provided quality care to our Chattanooga area members for many years.”

Reilly added the agreement “will ensure we can continue providing cost-effective, high-quality,

award-winning health care our patients expect and deserve.”

CHI Memorial and BlueCross leaders appreciate the patience and support of their customers and community members as they worked through the negotiations, the release states.

Patients can continue using CHI Memorial, CHI Memorial Medical Group and the Chattanooga Heart Institute for services on an in-network basis without their coverage being interrupted, according to the release.