Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Minnesota Expands Service To Military, Gains Stake In TriWest Healthcare Alliance

MINNEAPOLIS, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota today announced that it will begin serving active duty military families, reservists, National Guard and military retirees as the newest member of TriWest Healthcare Alliance -- a Phoenix-based U.S. Department of Defense contractor that manages the military's health care entitlement program, TRICARE, in 21 states.

Under TRICARE, TriWest serves members and retirees of the U.S. Armed Forces with civilian health care providers when treatment cannot be accessed or provided at a military base. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota -- the largest health plan in the state -- will enhance that network of civilian physicians, specialists, hospitals and clinics.

"Military personnel and their families, particularly those in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area will soon be able to access more quality providers at a continued low cost," said Mark W. Banks, M.D., chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. "As so many return home from combat or other active duties, it is especially important that they have access to best-value options for medical services. We are proud to participate in that cause."

Under the arrangement with TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota now is a shareholder of the privately held company, and receives a seat on TriWest's board of directors.

"For military members and their families, the partnership announced today means these individuals will have access to a greater number of providers in the Twin Cities area -- providers who are proud to support our servicemen and women, their families and retirees," said David J. McIntyre, Jr., president and chief executive officer of TriWest Healthcare Alliance. "This partnership makes the military health care system even stronger in Minnesota and extends high-quality care to military families."

About TriWest

TriWest Healthcare Alliance is a Phoenix-based corporation that partners with the Department of Defense to provide access to cost-effective, high- quality health care for 2.7 million members of America's military family in the 21-state TRICARE West Region, which is comprised of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and western Texas. For more information, visit www.triwest.com

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.6 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.

TriWest Healthcare Alliance

CONTACT: Jan Hennings, APR for TriWest Healthcare Alliance,+1-651-662-6139, or cell, +1-612-554-6663, orjanice_hennings@bluecrossmn.com

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