BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and BlueChoice HealthPlan Reach Agreement with Nason Medical Center/Ambulatory Urgent Care
August 3, 2014
Low Country Urgent Care Center Stays in the Insurers’ Network
COLUMBIA, SC – BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina and BlueChoice® HealthPlan have reached an agreement with Nason Medical Center/Ambulatory Urgent Care Centers that allows the Low Country-based urgent care centers to remain in the same BlueCross and BlueChoice® networks and accessible to those members at in-network rates.
According to Jim Deyling, president of the private business division of BlueCross, the agreement is good news for members. He said, “Nason’s leadership demonstrated a good faith effort in working with us to address cost concerns.
“We have been on the record as saying that our fundamental obligation is to balance access and cost on behalf of our membership. It is always a challenge and today’s evolving health care environment makes fulfilling that obligation even more complicated. In this case however, working together, we achieved an outcome that is in the best interest of our membership. We appreciate the willingness of Nason’s leadership to work with us, and their commitment to affordable patient care.”
Dr. Barron Nason said, “Nason Medical Center is pleased to be able to continue serving the BlueCross community of the Low Country. We have found BlueCross to be honest and fair in our discussions. Now we can get back to focusing on urgent care that is fast, friendly and affordable.”
Nason, which has five clinics located in James Island, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston and Summerville, was slated to exit the network in October. Today’s announcement cancels that action.
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., and operating in South Carolina for more than 65 years, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Also headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The only South Carolina-owned and operated health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina comprises more than 40 companies involved in health insurance services, U.S. DoD health program and Medicare contracts, other insurance and employee benefits services, and a philanthropic foundation that funds programs to improve health care and access to health care for South Carolinians.
