An Important Update for BCBSTX Members

Thank you for entrusting Medical Center Health System with your care. We want to inform you about our work to protect your in-network access to the physicians and other caregivers you know and trust at Medical Center Hospital, its clinics and MCH ProCare.

For several months, we have been negotiating in good faith with BCBSTX to come to a mutually agreeable contract before our current agreement expires on December 15, 2026.

As the region’s only safety-net hospital and leading trauma center, our community depends on MCH to provide the high-level care you need and deserve. Achieving contracts with insurance companies that provide fair market value for the care we provide is crucial to our ability to continue serving our 17 counties. MCH is currently reimbursed less (often 40% to 60% less) than BCBSTX pays other health systems in Texas for the same services.

We are working diligently and collaboratively to reach an agreement with BCBSTX quickly so there is no disruption in care for our patients. However, if we are unable to come to acceptable terms before our contract expires, Medical Center Hospital, its outpatient clinics and ProCare physicians will be out of network with BCBSTX’s employer-sponsored and federal healthcare marketplace plans after December 15, 2026.

What you can do:

• It is important to know that nothing will change before December 15. You should keep any scheduled appointments and continue to see your 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 Medical Center Health System.
• If you receive your health insurance through your employer, talk to your human resources representative about your options.
• If you receive your insurance coverage through the federal marketplace, visit HealthCare.gov to learn about your insurance options during Open Enrollment (November 1-January 15).

We have a long history of working with BCBSTX and other health insurance companies to advocate for your access to essential, local healthcare. We will continue doing everything we can to come to an agreement with BCBSTX as quickly as possible.

Affected Plans

The following BCBSTX plans may be affected by the current negotiations. This list may not include every affected BCBSTX plan. Because BCBSTX offers many different plans, please call the number on your insurance card to confirm whether your plan could be impacted.

• BlueCard PPO
• Blue Choice PPO
• PPO High Performance Network (HPN)
• Health Select PPO
• Blue Edge PPO
• MyBlue Health
• HMO Employer Group Variants
• Blue Advantage HMO
• Blue Advantage Plus
• Blue Advantage Bronze
• Blue Advantage Silver
• Blue Advantage Gold
• Blue Advantage Plus Bronze
• Blue Advantage Plus Silver
• Blue Advantage Plus Gold

BCBSTX Medicare Advantage plans are NOT part of the current negotiation and remain in network for the 2027 plan year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is happening?

For several months, we have been negotiating in good faith with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) to reach a mutually agreeable contract before our current agreement expires on December 15, 2026.

Currently, MCH is reimbursed less (often 40% to 60% less) than BCBSTX pays other health systems in Texas for the same services. Our goal is to achieve a fair market-based agreement that recognizes the care we provide and supports continued access to essential, local healthcare.

Is MCH going out-of-network with BCBSTX?

If we are unable to come to acceptable terms before our contract expires on December 15, 2026, Medical Center Hospital, its outpatient clinics and ProCare physicians will be out of network with BCBSTX’s employer-sponsored and federal healthcare marketplace plans after December 15, 2026.

Nothing will change before December 15, 2026. Patients should keep any scheduled appointments and continue to see their MCH providers as normal. We are working diligently and collaboratively to reach an agreement with BCBSTX quickly so there is no disruption in care for our patients.

Which BCBSTX plans may be affected?

BCBSTX’s employer-sponsored and federal healthcare marketplace plans are part of the current negotiations. BCBSTX Medicare Advantage plans are not affected.

Because BCBSTX offers many different plans, call the phone number on your insurance card to confirm whether your plan could be impacted.

What should I do now?

You can take the following actions to help protect your in-network access to MCH:

· 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 Medical Center Health System.

· If you receive health insurance through your employer, talk to your human resources representative about your options.

· If you receive insurance coverage through the federal marketplace, visit HealthCare.gov to learn about your insurance options during Open Enrollment, November 1-January 15.

· Visit mchodessa.com/accesstocare for more information.

If MCH becomes out of network, can I still receive care there?

By law, emergency care at MCH is always covered as in network. While you may still receive other services from MCH, if we are no longer considered in network after December 15, 2026, the terms of BCBSTX benefit plans may make patients responsible for a greater portion of the cost of their MCH care. Please consult your plan documents for details of your out-of-network coverage and benefits.

Patients undergoing active courses of treatment may qualify for benefits to continue receiving care at an in-network rate. We will work with BCBSTX members on an individual basis regarding possible continuing care benefits after December 15, 2026, but we are doing everything possible to reach an agreement before December 15, 2026.

Will my costs go up if MCH becomes out of network?

Your out-of-network coverage and benefits are described in your BCBS plan documents and may vary, but it is possible your out of pocket costs could go up after December 15, 2026, if MCH is out of network. Please consult your benefit plan documents for details of your out-of-network coverage and benefits. Please know that we are working diligently and collaboratively with BCBSTX to reach an agreement before our current contract expires to avoid disruption for our patients.

How can I learn more?

We are here to help you navigate this situation and answer any questions you may have. At this time, we are hopeful we will achieve a contract with BCBSTX soon and that our patients will not see any disruption in care.

We will continue to keep you updated and provide additional information as negotiations continue.