BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – St. Luke’s Health announced on Friday that it had resolved a contractual dispute with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. According to a statement released by St. Luke’s Health, the agreement will guarantee coverage for 65,000 BCBSTX patients who choose to receive their care from hospitals in the St. Luke’s provider network, including St. Joseph’s health at Bryan-College Station.
According to a statement by Douglas Lawson, CEO of St. Lukes Health, the new agreement takes effect on January 8, 2021.
“This new contract is an affirmation of how important it is for the health of our community to choose affordable, value-oriented medical care that we offer at St. Luke’s Health. The support that St. Luke’s Health has received from patients, providers, employers and other leaders has been tremendous, ”said Lawson. “Terminating the contract last month was a difficult decision, especially in the face of COVID-19, but we knew it was a necessary decision as we could only continue to provide the value-oriented care our community depends on when approaching St. Luke’s financial health. This agreement does that. “
“As this new agreement goes into effect, our focus remains where it has always been – on patients,” said Lawson. “We look forward to continuing to work with BCBSTX customers who have remained in our care and those who need hospital care in the future.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas said in a statement that the new agreement was a determined effort by both parties to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that would be better for all parties involved.
“We advocate on behalf of our members to keep healthcare prices affordable, especially during a global pandemic when access to care is critical,” said Shara McClure, senior vice president of health care delivery for Texas for BCBSTX.
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