| For Immediate Release | Contact: Joyce Faria Brennan |
| September 4, 2007 | 508-961-5270 |
| brennanj@southcoast.org | |
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NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group announced today it has reached a multi-year agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for its Medicare HMO Blue (formerly known as Blue Care 65) and Medicare PPO Blue. The agreement means more convenient access to services and enhanced benefits for people with Medicare in the South Coast region.
Effective September 1, 2007, all Southcoast Hospitals locations will be participating providers of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Medicare HMO and Medicare PPO Blue, Medicare Advantage plans. This means that patients with Medicare HMO and Medicare PPO Blue can now receive their care at any Southcoast location, including the three Southcoast Hospitals — Charlton Memorial, St. Luke's and Tobey hospitals — and Southcoast ancillary sites such as The Center for Women's Health, The Oncology Center, radiology, laboratory and physical rehabilitation locations.
"By offering the Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan patients now have additional options for where they receive their care," said William Grigg, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Southcoast Health System. "The Medicare HMO and Medicare PPO Blue plans offer seniors additional benefits not covered under traditional Medicare including a wider range of preventive services."
Medicare HMO and Medicare PPO Blue plans include enhanced Medicare benefits, such as preventive dental care, routine physicals, routine hearing exams, eye exams and allowances toward hearing aids and eyewear.
Medicare HMO Blue requires that the patient choose a primary care physician (PCP) that is part of their Medicare HMO Blue network, and the PCP will coordinate the patient's care to in-network providers.
To be eligible for either Medicare HMO or PPO Blue, patients must have Medicare Part A and Part B, continue to pay the Medicare Part B premium and live in the service plan area.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will be hosting an open enrollment for the Medicare Advantage products beginning November 15. Interested parties can call 1-800-200-4255 or visit www.bluecrossma.com.
About Southcoast
Southcoast Health System, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is a community based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of advanced health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes Southcoast Hospitals Group, formed in 1996 from the merger of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast has more than 40 ancillary facilities, including the Southcoast Health Van, home health care, hospice and infusion services, numerous outpatient medical services, an assisted living facility and a wellness center. For more information visit www.southcoast.org.
Southcoast is one of three community hospitals approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to perform open heart surgery and primary angioplasty beginning in Spring 2002.
Media Contact
Joyce Faria Brennan
Public Information Officer
Phone: 508-961-5270
Pager: 508-387-9605
Fax: 508-961-5876
brennanj@southcoast.org
