Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Florida And Florida Physicians Medical Group Reach Contract Agreements

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF), Health Options, Inc. (HOI), Florida Physicians Medical Group (FPMG) and a number of Florida Hospital physicans today announced an agreement that will allow them to continue to meet the health care needs of Orlando area residents. The agreement follows several weeks of negotiations and is effective immediately for Health Options HMO plans (BlueCare) and BCBSF's PPO plan (BlueChoice).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000427/BLUELOGOAhttp://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000427/BLUELOGOB )

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Florida Hospital- affiliated physician groups that will benefit our Orlando area HMO and PPO members," said Barry Schwartz, M.D., vice president, care and network management. "Our focus throughout every negotiating process is to reach an agreement that provides our members with access to affordable health care choices."

This agreement will allow 125 Orlando-area physicians to remain in the HOI (BlueCare) and Preferred Provider Care (BlueChoice) networks. BCBSF's traditional indemnity insurance plans remain in effect under a separate contract.

BCBSF, HOI and Florida Hospital continue to engage in discussions to search for common ground since Florida Hospital terminated its Health Options HMO contract March 1, 2004 for its seven facilities in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Florida Hospital facilities outside the tri-county Orlando area continue to participate in the Health Options HMO provider network, in addition to participating in other BCBSF lines of business. Health Options members have access to nine other network facilities in the Orlando tri-county area.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) is a leader in Florida's health industry. BCBSF and its subsidiaries serve more than 6.5 million Floridians. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the company has been dedicated since 1944 to meeting the diverse needs of all those it serves by offering an array of choices. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., BCBSF and its HMO subsidiary, Health Options, Inc., are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information concerning BCBSF, please see its Web site at http://www.bcbsfl.com/.

CONTACT: Lisa Acheson Luther, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida,+1-904-905-3402, or cellular, +1-904-536-9957

Web site: http://www.bcbsfl.com/