OKLAHOMA CITY — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) and OU Health, are pleased to announce that they have signed a new agreement that champions a positive health outlook for all Oklahomans. The three-year agreement ensures BCBSOK’s members have access to OU Health hospitals, clinics and doctors and furthers the long-standing relationship between the two organizations.
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is committed to working with Oklahoma hospitals and doctors to find long-term solutions for better health outcomes for our members,” said Stephania Grober, BCBSOK president. “With this new agreement we continue to evolve and build a stronger relationship between BCBSOK and OU Health.”
BCBSOK and OU Health are collaborating to provide Oklahomans affordable and innovative health care. In this new agreement the two organizations are focusing on a value-base care model of service, an innovative health care delivery and payment model that incentivizes health care providers and health systems to focus on their patients' health outcomes.
In addition, OU Health is expanding their participation in BCBSOK’s networks to include NativeBlueSM, a self-funded group plan that gives tribal-owned businesses more options to provide health care coverage to their employees regardless of their employees’ tribal citizenship.
“OU Health is committed to providing Oklahomans the specialty and subspecialty destination services unique to an academic health center,” said Richard Lofgren, MD, MPH, President and CEO of OU Health. “With this new agreement, we are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma to ensure our patients and their members can continue accessing our services with a goal of lessening the burden of disease and suffering through OU Health’s lifesaving services.”
OU Health facilities remaining in the BCBSOK networks with no disruption in service include: OU Health Physicians Clinics, University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, Edmond Medical Center, OU Health’s Breast Health Network and OU Health Urgent Care & ER.
Blue TraditionalSM, Blue Choice PPOSM, Blue Preferred PPOSM, BlueLincs HMOSM, Blue Advantage PPOSM, and Plan65 SelectSM members will continue to receive in-network benefit levels at OU Health facilities and doctors. Members on a NativeBlue health plan will receive in-network benefit levels at OU Health facilities and doctors beginning on July 1, when the new agreement takes effect.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma for 82 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma has been committed to meeting the health care financing needs of Oklahomans. As the state's oldest and largest private health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma provides health care benefit plans for more than 800,000 Oklahomans. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
About OU Health
OU Health is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system of hospitals, clinics and centers of excellence. The flagship academic healthcare system is the clinical partner of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, one of the most comprehensive academic and research campuses in the country. With 10,000 employees and more than 1,300 physicians and advanced practice providers, OU Health is home to Oklahoma’s largest doctor network with a complete range of specialty care. OU Health serves Oklahoma and the region with the state’s only freestanding children’s hospital, the only National Cancer Institute-Designated OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and Oklahoma’s flagship hospital, which serves as the state’s only Level 1 trauma center. Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health was named one of the Top 50 Children’s Hospital for Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Gastroenterology by U.S. News & World Report in its most recent rankings. OU Health’s oncology program at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center was named Oklahoma’s top facility for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020-21 rankings. OU Health also was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as high performing in these specialties: Colon Surgery, COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. OU Health’s mission is to lead healthcare in patient care, education and research. To learn more, visit ouhealth.com.