BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University Medical Center Announce Long-Term Agreement

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST), Tennessee's largest health benefit plan company, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Tennessee's major quaternary healthcare provider, announce a new long-term network agreement. BlueCross members with employer-based or individual coverage in both Network P and S will continue to enjoy access to care at all Vanderbilt Health hospitals and clinics, and through all Vanderbilt doctors.

"We know our members value Vanderbilt's services, and we're glad to maintain their access to high-quality, affordable care," said Scott Pierce, executive vice president and chief operating officer for BlueCross. "Stability is also important to our members' peace of mind, and strong provider relationships like ours meet that need."

Members covered through BlueCare Tennessee plans will also maintain their access to Vanderbilt Health's providers, as will organ transplant patients. BlueCare plan enrollees and organ transplant patients are covered under separate agreements.

"This agreement with BlueCross BlueShield is integral to our mission to serve the healthcare needs of millions of Tennesseans, providing added continuity and stability for the relationship between our organizations," said C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, deputy chief executive officer and chief health system officer for VUMC. "We look forward to working closely with our BlueCross colleagues as we continue to serve our patients and their members."

About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and has served the state for more than 75 years. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company's news center at bcbstnews.com.

About Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is the largest comprehensive research, teaching and patient care health system in the Mid-South region, with the highest ranked adult and children's hospitals in the Southeast by U.S. News & World Report. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, VUMC sees over 3.2 million patient visits per year in over 180 ambulatory locations, performs 79,000 surgical operations and discharges 78,000 inpatients from its main-campus adult, children's, psychiatric and rehabilitation hospitals and three regional community hospitals. The Medical Center is the largest non-governmental employer of Middle Tennesseans, with nearly 40,000 staff, including more than 3,000 physicians, advanced practice nurses and scientists appointed to the Vanderbilt University faculty. For more information and the latest news follow VUMC on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and at VUMC News.