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(432) 640-4000
(432) 640-4000
(432) 640-4000

Access to Care

Preserving Access to Trusted Local Care

A Positive Update on our Work to Preserve Your Access to Care

MCH has been working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) to reach new agreements that put patients first and reflect the exceptional care our nurses and providers deliver every day.

As we have made substantial progress on the details of our agreement, we have extended our contract with BCBSTX through June 30, 2023, to allow additional time for our two organizations to finalize negotiations.

We are confident we can achieve a new, long-term contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas soon to ensure patients can continue in-network access to Medical Center Hospital, MCH outpatient clinics and ProCare physicians.

Medical Center Hospital and BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX)

We want to provide you with an update on our work to protect our patients’ access to Medical Center Hospital (MCH), physician offices and clinics.

MCH has provided access to local healthcare for our community for over 70 years. We understand how important it is for our patients to continue to receive their care from the MCH providers they know and trust.

As a part of our regular process, MCH and BCBSTSX are currently negotiating a new contract in good faith before our current contracts expire on May 31, 2023.

MCH has not received a rate increase from BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX) in five years and is currently reimbursed well below what other similar health systems in West Texas receive for the same services.

However, if BCBSTX declines to negotiate a fair agreement before our current contract ends on May 31, 2023, BCBSTX would consider MCH hospital, outpatient clinics and physicians to be out of network with BCBSTX commercial insurance plans after May 31, 2023.

Advocating for our patients is one of our top priorities. We must ensure our patients continue to have access to local, quality healthcare, and that our caregivers are fairly compensated for the lifesaving care they provide each and every day.

We are working diligently and collaboratively to reach an agreement quickly so there is no disruption in care for our patients. We have every reason to believe that BCBSTX shares the same goal.

What You Can Do Today:

  • It is important to know that nothing will change before May 31, 2023. Patients should keep any scheduled appointments and continue to see their MCH providers as normal.
  • Call the number on the back of your health insurance card. Ask BCBSTX to reach a new agreement to protect your in-network access to MCH, its physicians and outpatient clinics.
  • If you have employer-sponsored health insurance with BCBSTX, talk to your employer and/or human resources representative about your desire for continued in-network access to MCH, its physicians and outpatient clinics.