Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation Expands Healthcare Network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky

Nashville, TN-based Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation has announced that its Louisville hospital network will be included in the Option 2000 and Option 2000 Advantage healthcare plans offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky, effective July 1, 1995. This agreement allows approximately 75,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield customers in Louisville and Somerset to access Columbia/HCA hospitals. Four new hospitals in the Louisville market will be added to the network: Audubon Regional Medical Center, Southwest Hospital, Suburban Medical Center, and University of Louisville Hospital. In Somerset, Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center will also be added. This move is seen as a significant step in expanding healthcare choices for customers in accordance with Kentucky Health Care Reform.

Key Takeaways:

• The Columbia Healthcare network of hospitals in Louisville will be included in the Option 2000 and Option 2000 Advantage healthcare plans offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky, effective July 1, 1995.
• Approximately 75,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield customers in Louisville and Somerset will have access to Columbia/HCA hospitals.
• Four hospitals in the Louisville market will be added to the network: Audubon Regional Medical Center, Southwest Hospital, Suburban Medical Center, and University of Louisville Hospital.
• In Somerset, Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center will be added to the network.
• Physicians with patients who are members of these plans can access one of the most complete healthcare networks in the state.
• This agreement is seen as a significant step in expanding healthcare choices for customers in accordance with Kentucky Health Care Reform.
• Columbia/HCA is the nation's largest provider of healthcare services, with 318 hospitals and more than 100 outpatient surgery centers in 36 states, England, and Switzerland.
• Columbia provided more than $1 billion in uncompensated care and paid over $1 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 1994.

Statistics:

• 75,000: Number of Blue Cross Blue Shield customers in Louisville and Somerset who will have access to Columbia/HCA hospitals.
• 4: Number of hospitals added to the network in the Louisville market.
• 1: Number of hospital added to the network in the Somerset market (Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center).
• 318: Number of hospitals in Columbia/HCA's healthcare network.
• 36: Number of states where Columbia/HCA operates hospitals and outpatient surgery centers.
• $1 billion: Amount of uncompensated care provided by Columbia/HCA in 1994.
• $1 billion: Amount of federal, state, and local taxes paid by Columbia/HCA in 1994.

Sources:

• "Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation Announces Agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky." PR Newswire, June 19, 1995.
• "Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation." Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, 1995.