Select members in the Portland area transitioned to Adventist and Tuality Health Systems
PORTLAND, Ore – Adventist Health, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Tuality Healthcare have entered into a partnership to provide in-network care to select Individual members in the Portland metropolitan area.
Beginning October 1, 2012, select Regence Individual members will be transitioned from their current PPO network to one of two Oregon Select networks in a move designed to provide members continued quality care and monthly premium affordability.
“Providing affordable coverage is one of our top priorities at Regence. Both the Adventist and Tuality health systems are collaborating with us to deliver quality care at an affordable price,” said Don Antonucci, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. “We know the doctor-patient relationship is personal, and this may mean a change for many of our members. We are confident, however, that they will continue to receive top-level care, and we will do everything we can to make this transition as smooth as possible.”
Members were directed to a partnering health system based on their proximity to the hospitals and clinics in the Adventist and Tuality networks. In most cases, members living in Washington and Yamhill counties will integrate into the Tuality Healthcare system, while those living in Multnomah and Clackamas counties will integrate into the Adventist Health system. Select zip codes were excluded based on geography and lack of network proximity. While members were automatically directed to the nearest Oregon Select network, they will be provided with the opportunity to transfer among these providers, if they prefer.
“Adventist Health is comprised of a wide network of medical clinics and a full-service medical center which is ranked as one of America’s Safest Hospital’s, serving 900,000 patients on the east side of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area,” said President and CEO Tom Russell. “Regence members, in our care, can access exceptional quality care at an affordable cost through our high performing network representing nearly 400 primary care and specialty care providers strategically located across Multnomah and Clackamas counties.
With the cost of medical care in Oregon continuing to rise, Adventist, Regence and Tuality share a common vision that close collaboration is critical to increase health care access and improve individuals’ ability to afford coverage.
“Bending the cost curve and making health care more affordable is a critical challenge that we must address. No one group can do it alone. This is an example of health care collaboration that unites doctors, hospitals, insurers and patients around a shared goal of affordability and quality care,” said Dick Stenson, president and CEO of Tuality Healthcare.
Members should expect to receive letters about this change in the coming week and detailed information packets to follow.
These network changes, received by approximately 20,000 Individual members, do not affect offerings in the Group or Medicare lines of business, nor do they affect members in Clark County, Washington.
About Adventist Medical Center (AMC)
Adventist Medical Center (AMC), located in southeast Portland, is a nonprofit, 302-bed acute care facility, offering a full range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services throughout the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area.
Adventist Medical Center is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system with nearly 21,000 employees serving communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist health values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 18 hospitals, more than 135 clinics (rural health and physician clinics), 14 home care agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. We invite you to visit AdventistHealth.org for more information.
About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is a leading health plan in Oregon, with approximately 730,000 members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence is the largest health insurer in the Northwest / Intermountain Region, serving nearly 2.5 million members as Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Each plan is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence is committed to improving the health of our members and our communities, and to transforming our health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.twitter.com/RegenceOregon
About Tuality Healthcare
Tuality Healthcare is the leading healthcare provider in western Washington County and northern Yamhill County, serving a market area of 350,000 and growing. Tuality is a non-profit, community based organization with hospitals in Hillsboro and Forest Grove. We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical services, including comprehensive cardiac, cancer and stroke care. Tuality has a medical staff of 300 doctors and other health care professionals, and is one of the region’s largest employers with a staff of over 1,200. Tuality, like Regence, is partnering with many other providers to transform our health care system. For more information, please visit www.tuality.oreg or www.facebook.com/Tuality.