Aug. 16, 2017

Important Texas Network Updates

Please contact your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) representative with questions or concerns.

Longhorn Emergency Physicians
BCBSTX and Longhorn Emergency Medical Associates (Longhorn) are currently in contract negotiations. If an agreement is not reached, Longhorn will no longer be part of Blue Choice^SM, Blue Essentials^SM or PAR networks effective Sept. 17, 2017. The group will also no longer participate in Blue Advantage HMO^SM, effective Dec. 17, 2017.

In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, members who receive services from a Longhorn doctor may be responsible for a higher portion of their emergency room (ER) bill.

We’re committed to our members and employers, meaning we will work with Longhorn to reach an agreement that protects both.

Impacted Hospitals
Hospital Name	Location
Heart Hospital of Austin	Austin, TX
Lake Granbury Medical Center	Granbury, TX
St. David’s Georgetown Hospital ED	Georgetown, TX
St. David’s Medical Center	Austin, TX
St. David’s North Austin Medical Center	Austin, TX
St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center	Round Rock, TX
St. David’s South Austin Medical Center	Austin, TX

Hill Country Emergency Medical Associates
We want to make you aware that Hill Country Emergency Medical Associates, PA (Hill Country) issued a notice of termination to BCBSTX. This means that Hill Country will no longer be part of Blue Choice^SM, Blue Essentials^SM or PAR networks effective Sept. 17, 2017. The group will also no longer participate in Blue Advantage HMO^SM effective Dec. 17, 2017.

Hill Country is an emergency room (ER) physician group providing professional services in the San Marcos and Killeen areas in Texas.

The rates Hill Country proposed are both unreasonable and unwarranted. If we do not reach a reasonable agreement and Hill Country leaves BCBSTX’s networks, our members may be responsible for a significantly higher portion of their ER bill if they receive services from a Hill Country doctor.

We hope Hill Country will reconsider their decision and continue to participate in our networks. BCBSTX is committed to our members and employers, meaning we will work with Hill Country to reach an agreement that protects the interest of both.

Impacted Hospitals
Hospital Name	Location
Central Texas Medical Center	San Marcos, TX
Metroplex Hospital	Killeen, TX

ACS Primary Care Physicians, PA
ACS Primary Care Physicians SW, PA (ACS) recently notified BCBSTX it will no longer participate in our Blue Choice^SM, Blue Essentials^SM or PAR networks effective Aug. 31, 2017. The group will also no longer participate in Blue Advantage HMO^SM effective Nov. 17, 2017.

ACS is an emergency room (ER) physician group that operates at hospitals in the greater Houston area and has expanded to hospitals and surgical centers in the Austin and College Station areas.

BCBSTX is committed to our members and employers and is unable to agree to ACS’s demands for increased rates.

If we do not reach a reasonable agreement, and ACS leaves BCBSTX’s networks, our members may be responsible for a significant portion of their ER bill if they receive services from ACS doctors.

We hope ACS will reconsider its decision and continue to participate in our networks.

Houston-area Impacted Hospitals
Hospital Name	Location
Austin Surgical Hospital	Austin, TX
College Station Medical Center	College Station, TX
Huntsville Regional Medical Center	Huntsville, TX
Longview Regional Medical Center	Longview, TX
Memorial Hermann Convenient Care Center at Summerwood	Houston, TX
Memorial Hermann Katy	Katy, TX
Memorial Hermann Memorial City	Houston, TX
Memorial Hermann Northeast	Houston, TX
Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital	Houston, TX
Memorial Hermann Pearland Convenient Care Center	Pearland, TX
Memorial Hermann Southeast	Houston, TX
Memorial Hermann Southwest	Houston, TX
Memorial Hermann Sugar Land	Sugar Land, TX
Memorial Hermann The Woodlands	The Woodlands, TX
Woodlands Emergency Care	The Woodlands, TX
South Katy Convenient Care Center	Katy, TX
Sienna Plantation CC ED	Missouri City, TX