CHI Memorial & BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Negotiations

CHI Memorial Support Plan for BlueCross BlueShield Network S Patients Expires Dec. 31

CHI Memorial is pleased to share that we have reached an agreement with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) for continued participation in their Network P, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid plans.

This means our patients with BCBST Network P, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid will maintain uninterrupted in-network access to the high-value CHI Memorial hospitals and providers they depend upon for their care. Patients will continue to see their providers as normal, with no changes to appointments or billing.

This agreement will ensure these patients’ continued access to CHI Memorial physicians, nurses, services, and hospitals including The Chattanooga Heart Institute, outpatient services, CHI Memorial Medical Group, and CHI Memorial Health at Home.

Our goal in working with BCBST has always been to reach an agreement that puts patients first and protects their access to the providers and services they know and trust. We are glad to have achieved that goal on behalf of our patients.

We deeply appreciate the trust patients have placed in our team and look forward to continuing to serve them.

The CHI Memorial Support Plan for BlueCross BlueShield Network S patients will expire at midnight on December 31, 2024.

CHI Memorial offered this support plan to allow employers and patients six months to select another plan that includes CHI Memorial and its physicians after BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) announced it would no longer include CHI Memorial in Network S effective July 1, 2024.

Many employers and patients have already switched to a plan that includes CHI Memorial hospitals and physicians. Thank you for your continued trust.

Many other employers are offering open enrollment now through the end of the year. Please continue to encourage your employer and your Human Resources benefits department to offer a plan that includes CHI Memorial. These options include the following:

• Cigna Local Plus which is the other competitive narrow network product in the community
• BCBST Network P which is a broad network
• View insurance plans offered that include CHI Memorial.

If you do not have the option to select a plan that includes CHI Memorial, you have the following choices:

• Continue to see CHI Memorial physicians and receive care at CHI Memorial hospitals if your Network S health plan provides out-of-network benefits
• If your Network S plan does not provide out-of-network benefits, you may choose to continue care at CHI Memorial and with its physicians as a self-pay patient.
• Call BCBST at (800) 924-7141 to find another in-network provider for physician and hospital services, or visit www.bcbst.com/get-care/find-care.

Please remember, emergency care is always covered in-network. Insurance companies are legally required to cover true emergency department care at an in-network benefit level.

Hopefully, the six month support plan has demonstrated our commitment to always put patients first and that it has given you time to select a plan that allows you to continue with the care you trust at CHI Memorial. On our patients’ behalf, we will continue to urge BCBST to restore CHI Memorial as a provider within Network S in the future.

If you have any further questions, please call this number to speak with a representative (423) 495-2583.